The Problem

Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide, with 1,467,854 new cases in 2022. While androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies can be effective for low-risk prostate cancer (PCa), high-risk cases frequently progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which requires chemotherapy agents like taxanes. These treatments are associated with significant side effects and variable efficacy, underscoring the urgent need for more targeted therapies and predictive preclinical models. Current preclinical evaluation relies heavily on animal models, which face translational limitations due to species-specific differences in immune function, tumour microenvironments, and drug metabolism. These limitations hinder the development of effective, patient-specific treatments. 

Dr Ethan Perkins at the University of Bradford, is developing a fully humanised, animal-free microphysiological system that incorporates multiple human cell types, including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and prostate cancer cells, with the flexibility to integrate patient-derived material. This advanced 3D model more accurately mimics human tumour biology and responses to treatment, supporting more predictive early-stage drug screening and reducing reliance on animal models and animal-derived reagents.  

A key innovation of this work is the replacement of commonly used animal-derived products such as foetal calf serum (FCS), trypsin, collagen, and gelatine. Dr Perkins will conduct direct side-by-side comparisons of these traditional reagents and their animal-free counterparts, evaluating performance across parameters such as cell growth, morphology, and function in both 2D and 3D co-culture systems.

The model’s physiological relevance will be confirmed using gene and protein expression profiling. It will be validated with standard chemotherapies (e.g., Docetaxel, Cabazitaxel) by comparing therapeutic responses to existing ex vivo and in vivo datasets. Additionally, novel in-house therapeutics will be tested to demonstrate the platform’s suitability for drug discovery. To ensure feasibility and scalability, the project uses established platforms such as AIM Biotech’s OrganiX and IdenTx, both previously validated in tumour-on-a-chip applications. 

Impact and Future Outlook

This project aims to deliver a validated, human-relevant, animal-free prostate cancer model suitable for drug discovery and therapeutic screening. By supporting evaluation of novel targeted treatments, the model has the potential to reduce reliance on toxic chemotherapies and improve patient outcomes through safer, more effective screening. 

 Its compatibility with patient-derived cells could enable personalised therapeutic evaluation, including the identification of treatment resistance and potential side effects, paving the way for precision medicine in prostate cancer care.

Dr Perkins also aims for the platform to be adaptable to other cancer types or multi-organ systems, enabling broader toxicological screening and higher-throughput drug evaluation at lower cost. The inclusion of off-target human tissues will further enhance its utility in assessing adverse effects, making it a powerful tool for comprehensive safety testing.  

Crucially, the project’s side-by-side comparison of animal-derived and animal-free reagents will generate robust data to support the wider adoption of ethical, animal-free methods across biomedical research. These findings could help influence regulatory guidance and promote best practices in cell culture and therapeutic development. Validated protocols and data will be shared through publications, conference presentations, and outreach activities to accelerate the scientific transition to animal-free systems.   

This innovative research represents a vital step toward more clinically relevant, sustainable, and humane cancer research.