Development of a 3-D co-culture system to recapitulate the in vivo tumour microenvironment by application of a multidisciplinary approach integrating expertise from cancer sciences, skeletal stem cell biology, acoustics and bioreactor technology.
In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, malignant cells accumulate within the bone marrow. The complex interaction between leukaemia B-cells and supporting stromal cells of the bone marrow microenvironment modulates both disease progression and resistance to therapy. A custom-made acoustic trapping perfusion bioreactor will be utilised to generate a 3-D co-culture model of leukaemia B-cells and bone marrow stromal myofibroblasts for investigation of molecular cross-talk between the two cell populations. Analysis of this bidirectional communication will facilitate development of a novel therapeutic approach based on depriving malignant cells of the supporting microenvironment interactions.
Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration