TY - JOUR AB - Knowledge of the tumor microenvironment is crucial for developing an effective strategy to treat cancer. Recently, anticancer therapies targeting macrophages have been intensively investigated. Increased understanding of the importance of the tumor microenvironment has led to the development of three‑dimensional (3D) in vitro tumor models. However, established techniques for studying tumor‑associated macrophages in vitro are limited. We have previously characterized a 3D breast cancer model consisting of breast cancer cells and fibroblasts cocultured on a silk scaffold. In the present study, the influence of this model on macrophage polarization was investigated. The expression of macrophage markers was studied using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and flow cytometry. The activity of nitric oxide synthase and arginase in macrophages was also measured. The presented model appeared to induce the polarization of macrophages towards an M2 phenotype. In this 3D tumor model, the in vivo behavior of macrophages could be reproduced. This model may be beneficial for the study of tumor biology and for screening drugs. AD - Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61‑866 Poznan, Poland Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61‑701 Poznan, Poland AU - Golabek,Agata AU - Kaczmarek,Mariusz AU - Dondajewska,Ewelina AU - Sakrajda,Kosma AU - Mackiewicz,Andrzej AU - Dams‑kozlowska,Hanna DA - 2021/05/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.9913 IS - 5 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - cancer three‑dimensional model silk scaffold tumor‑associated macrophages tumor microenvironment cancer immunotherapy PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 482 ST - Application of a three‑dimensional (3D) breast cancer model to study macrophage polarization T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Application of a three‑dimensional (3D) breast cancer model to study macrophage polarization UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9913 VL - 21 ER -