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 yr 1 of the proposal we quantified mammary gland development, finding strain dependent differences highlighting a genetic component to development, and in yr 2 we continued to characterize development. In year 1 we developed a proof-of-principle 3D printing technology to print a mammary gland, and in year 2 we comprehensively developed a 3D printed ductal system with perfusion to study breast cells in their 3D environment. In yr 3 NCE we will examine growth and behavior of breast cells in this 3D mammary duct in vitro.