Blossoming Development

These blossom-like shapes are the result of a new approach which will allow scientists to test novel treatments for ovarian cancer. Traditionally, new cancer drugs were tested on cancer cells grown in a single-layer. Unfortunately, less than 5% of drugs identified this way go on to become effective treatments. The problem is that a flat, 2D culture is a poor mimic for the spherical 3D structures usually found in ovarian cancers. The ‘blossoms’ shown here are ovarian tumours growing in 3D suspension in an innovative hydrogel matrix. At their centre (highlighted in blue) are tumour cells, while in pink is a protein called F-actin which forms a network around the tumour cells and the green ‘leaves’ are non-cancer cells. In single layer cultures the last two elements are missing but are both essential for 3D tumour growth. This more life-like culture method will allow faster identification of effective therapies.

Written by Julie Webb

Julie Webb

Writer

Julie began her career as a researcher in genetics. In 2000 she won a Wellcome Trust award for her work on a collaborative science drama, staged at the Edinburgh Festival. She now works as a freelance science writer and communicator.

• Image from work by Clara Louise Hedegaard and colleagues
• School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
• Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
• Published in Science Advances, October 2020