The onset and progression of oral cancer are accompanied by a dynamic interaction with the host immune system, and the immune cells within the tumor microenvironment play a pivotal role in the development of the tumor. By exploring the cellular immunity of oral cancer, we can gain insight into the contribution of both tumor cells and immune cells to tumorigenesis. This understanding is crucial for developing effective immunotherapeutic strategies to combat oral cancer. Studies of cancer immunology present unique challenges in terms of modeling due to the extraordinary complexity of the immune system. With its multitude of cellular components, each with distinct subtypes and various activation states, the immune system interacts with cancer cells and other components of the tumor, ultimately shaping the course of the disease. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture methods fall short of capturing these intricate cellular interactions. Mouse models enable us to learn about tumor biology in complicated and dynamic physiological systems but have limitations as the murine immune system differs significantly from that of humans. In light of these challenges, three-dimensional (3D) culture systems offer an alternative approach to studying cancer immunology and filling the existing gaps in available models. These 3D culture models provide a means to investigate complex cellular interactions that are difficult to replicate in 2D cultures. The direct study of the interaction between immune cells and cancer cells of human origin offers a more relevant and representative platform compared to mouse models, enabling advancements in our understanding of cancer immunology. This review explores commonly used 3D culture models and highlights their significant contributions to expanding our knowledge of cancer immunology. By harnessing the power of 3D culture systems, we can unlock new insights that pave the way for improved strategies in the battle against oral cancer.
口腔癌的发生发展与宿主免疫系统之间存在动态相互作用，肿瘤微环境中的免疫细胞在肿瘤发展过程中起着关键作用。通过探索口腔癌的细胞免疫机制，我们可以深入了解肿瘤细胞和免疫细胞在肿瘤发生中的共同作用。这种认识对于制定有效的免疫治疗策略以对抗口腔癌至关重要。由于免疫系统的极端复杂性，癌症免疫学研究在模型构建方面面临独特挑战。免疫系统包含多种细胞成分，每种细胞都具有不同的亚型和激活状态，它们与癌细胞及肿瘤其他成分相互作用，最终影响疾病进程。传统的二维培养方法难以捕捉这些复杂的细胞间相互作用。小鼠模型使我们能够在复杂动态的生理系统中研究肿瘤生物学，但由于鼠类免疫系统与人类存在显著差异，这类模型具有局限性。鉴于这些挑战，三维培养系统为研究癌症免疫学提供了新途径，能够填补现有模型的空白。与二维培养相比，三维培养模型为研究复杂的细胞相互作用提供了有效手段。相较于小鼠模型，直接研究人类来源的免疫细胞与癌细胞之间的相互作用，提供了一个更具相关性和代表性的研究平台，推动着癌症免疫学认知的进步。本综述探讨了常用的三维培养模型，并重点阐述了这些模型在拓展癌症免疫学认知方面的重要贡献。通过利用三维培养系统的优势，我们可以获得新的见解，为改进口腔癌防治策略开辟道路。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家