A 3D Bioprinted Model for the Study of Premalignant Breast Disease

This proposal involves a multidisciplinary team including a surgical oncologist, a mammary gland biologist, a biomedical engineer, and a cancer biologist. We hypothesize that a novel in vitro 3D bioprinted model of premalignant breast cells growing within a breast ductal system will represent the first and most faithful representation of premalignant progression in vitro and will be an outstanding model for identify markers of low-risk premalignant disease which doesnt require treatment. In the first year of the proposal we have comprehensively quantified mammary gland development in multiple different mouse strains, finding strain dependent differences highlighting a genetic component to the development. We have imaged these glands and performed proof-of-principle 3D printing. We have printed simple ductal structures tubes and seeded breast epithelial cells. The next year we will continue to develop and characterize the 3D model system.