Figure 3.

Schematic representation of 3D culture models of tumor cells. (A) Spheroids can be obtained from tumor cell lines and tumor cell suspensions. Physical features of spheroids can change, depending on the culture conditions used, resulting in different (a) or similar (b) size. (B) Organoids can be derived from tumor cell suspensions seeded either in matrigel/geltrex domes (a) or in air liquid interface (ALI) cultures, (b) and can display a well-defined polarization of molecules like those localized at the basal or apical pole of cells. Importantly, spheroids and organoids can be cultured in chemically defined media; this is of relevance to avoid any influence during the experimental procedures of animal/viral derived factors; this leads to the generation of a more physiologic microenvironment.