Recapitulating patient-to-patient colorectal cancer tumor heterogeneity using patient-derived xenograft cells in an engineered tissue model

Establishing in vitro cancer models that more closely recapitulate patient tumor microenvironmental heterogeneity, including variations in stromal cells and mechanical properties that influence colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, is crucial for advancing CRC research. This study evaluated the ability of 3D engineered CRC-PDX (3D-eCRC-PDX) tissues to recapitulate the heterogeneity found between patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors from three CRC patients (stage II, III-B, and IV). To form the 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues, CRC-PDX tumor cells were encapsulated in PEG-fibrinogen hydrogels and maintained for 29 days in vitro. 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues recapitulated key patient-specific tumor characteristics. During long-term culture, 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues mimicked the patient-specific growth rates of the originating CRC-PDX tumors. Importantly, tumor cellular subpopulations, including the ratio of human cancer cells to mouse stromal cells and the ratios of proliferative human cancer cells and CK20⁺ cells were maintained in 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues, unlike in 2D cell culture. Differences in mechanical stiffness between the originating CRC-PDX tumors were also recapitulated by the 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues. Principal component analysis of transcriptomic data clustered 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues and CRC-PDX tumors together by patient, indicating similar gene expression profiles. These findings highlight the potential of 3D-eCRC-PDX tissues as a promising tool for CRC research, capable of maintaining patient-specific tumor microenvironment heterogeneity. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This study establishes engineered colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues formed using PEG-fibrinogen and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor cells for modeling inter-patient tumor heterogeneity. In vitro models that preserve patient tumors' biological and structural heterogeneity are central to the development of more predictive and reproducible preclinical cancer models. Here, engineered tissues replicated patient-specific tumor growth dynamics, sustained key cancer and stromal cell subpopulations, recapitulated originating PDX tumor stiffness, and sustained patient-specific patterns of gene expression. This work demonstrates the long-term culture of cells from patient xenografts in engineered CRC tissues, enabling sustained preservation of critical patient tumor-specific microenvironmental characteristics in vitro.