We recombine cancer cells with human-derived tumor microvasculature and stromal cells to reconstruct a functional tumor microenvironment (TME) for anti-cancer drug testing. Similar to in vivo xenograft models, vitronco models enable assessment of both on-target effects (direct effects on cancer cells) and off-target effects (impact on the TME).
Unlike xenografts, however, vitronco models capture human-relevant toxicities. They deliver clinically meaningful readouts within an adequate timeframe (~10 days). While in vitro 3D organoid and spheroid models offer faster readouts, they do not account for the critical contribution of the TME to drug response.
