| Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major part of the tumour microenvironment and have been shown to play an important role in the progression of cancer. To probe the tumour-stroma interactions, we incorporated CAFs and squamous carcinoma cells of the hypopharynx (FaDu cells) into the Tissue Roll for the Analysis of Cellular Environment and Response (TRACER) platform to simulate a section of a head and neck tumour. We optimized the seeding densities and stacking configurations of the CAF and FaDu cell tissue sections to enable a robust 3D co-culture system under normoxic conditions. Although co-culture of CAFs with FaDu cells produced negligible effects on radiation resistance, increases in proliferation rate and cell migration at 24 and 48 h of culture were observed. Our study provides the basis for use of our in vitro co-culture model to investigate the tumour-stroma interactions and to assess treatment response as a drug screening tool. |
