# Development of a 3D Skin Model for Studying Melanoma Progression

## TL;DR

A 3D skin model was developed to study melanoma progression and drug responses, offering a more realistic alternative to animal testing.

## Contribution

The development of a 3D melanoma skin model that mimics tumor progression and immune evasion traits.

## Key findings

- The 3D model supports melanoma cell invasion and recapitulates key features like ECM remodeling and EMT.
- The model exhibits cytokine profiles similar to those seen in melanoma inflammation and immune evasion.
- The model can be used for personalized medicine strategies using patient-derived cells.

## Abstract

Despite advances in the treatment of cutaneous melanoma, there is still a high percentage of patients who fail to respond or develop resistance to treatment. Establishing robust in vitro melanoma models will enable mechanism-based drug screening while reducing animal testing. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) melanoma skin model (3DMSM) was developed on a porous scaffold. The culture of three melanoma cell lines (SKMEL-1, A375, and G361) in co-culture with human fibroblasts, melanocytes, and keratinocytes allowed the formation of the dermis, and stratified epidermis. Tumors were established in this model using two methodologies: adding previously formed melanoma cell aggregates (CA) or seeding melanoma cells directly into the dermis (CD). In this model, melanoma cells remain in their original microenvironment and, after proliferation, invade the basal layer. The model recapitulates correct melanocyte localization, epidermal disruption, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, including collagen deposition, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, the cytokine profiles studied indicate that the model could mirror the inflammatory and immune-evasive traits of melanoma. Overall, 3DMSM provides a useful tool for understanding the mechanisms of melanoma progression and invasion, and for developing personalized medicine strategies through the implementation of a patient-derived model.