Harnessing Tissue Engineering Tools to Interrogate Host-Microbiota Crosstalk in Cancer

Abstract

Recent studies have begun to highlight the diverse and tumor-specific microbiomes across multiple cancer types. We believe this work raises the important question of whether the classical ''Hallmarks of Cancer'' should be expanded to include tumor microbiomes. To answer this question, the causal relationships and co-evolution of these microbiotic tumor ecosystems must be better understood. Because host-microbe interactions should be studied in a physiologically relevant context, animal models have been preferred. Yet these models are often poor mimics of human tumors and are difficult to interrogate at high spatiotemporal resolution. We believe that in vitro tissue engineered platforms could provide a powerful alternative approach that combines the high-resolution of in vitro studies with a high degree of physiological relevance. This review will focus on tissue engineered approaches to study host-microbe interactions and to establish their role as an emerging hallmark of cancer with potential as a therapeutic target.

Stool microRNA profiles reflect different dietary and gut microbiome patterns in healthy individuals

“…However, novel co-culturing systems and in vitro models reproducing the gut system could be applied based on evidence of miRNA and bacteria dysregulation observed in faecal samples to improve our understanding of the molecular characteristics of this miRNA-mediated host-microbial interaction. 85 In conclusion, we hereby present the first large-scale characterisation of faecal miRNAs in relation to different diets and to the gut microbial population with the state of the art of highthroughput technologies. We show a gradual modulation of the human miRNome as a consequence of different dietary regimens with important modifications in miRNAs involved in lipid and folate metabolism.…”

“…However, novel co-culturing systems and in vitro models reproducing the gut system could be applied based on evidence of miRNA and bacteria dysregulation observed in faecal samples to improve our understanding of the molecular characteristics of this miRNA-mediated host-microbial interaction. 85 …”

Diet-Induced Host–Microbe Interactions: Personalized Diet Strategies for Improving Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Research on the bidirectional relation between diet and the gut microbiome has been expanded extensively using both in vivo and in vitro/ex vivo models. Udayasuryan et al ( 153 ) summarized the pros and cons of current model systems available for studying host–microbe interactions (e.g., 2D culture system, 3D organoid, gut-on-chip, and mouse). Although current research models provide a broad understanding of the effects of diet on the composition and activity of gut microbiota, there are several limitations to applying diet as a therapeutic tool with respect to reproducibility and controllability, physiologic relevance, and complexity in vivo.…”

Transcending toward Advanced 3D-Cell Culture Modalities: A Review about an Emerging Paradigm in Translational Oncology

“…Whereas BMDC activation marker expression and the innate immune cells infiltration were also performed [ 154 , 155 , 156 ]. Plus, recent research indicates that colorectal cancers include microbiota that differ from those found in a “normal” colon environment, and that these microbes might contribute to cancer growth [ 157 ].…”