Doxorubicin and quercetin combined effect on SAOS-2 cells grown in 2D and 3D model systems

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive primary malignant bone tumor that most commonly affects children, adolescents, and young adults. The standard treatment for OS consists of surgical resection and chemotherapy, whereas radiation therapy is recommended for the unresectable tumor. Due to its easy metastasis and recurrence, the 5-year overall survival rate is only 66.5 %. Thus, there is a critical need to recognize the molecular mechanisms underlying OS development and pathogenesis. Traditionally, two-dimensional (2D) cells are widely used in cancer biology and pre-clinical studies. However, 2D models are unable to mimic cell–cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions which are crucial for adequate cellular function. Three-dimensional (3D) model systems are able to recapitulate key features of human cancer and are recognized as a promising platform for fundamental and translational research. In the present work, we established an osteosarcoma 3D model based on alginate microbeads and studied the effect of combined treatment with doxorubicin (Doxo), widely used chemotherapeutic, and quercetin (Quer), a plant pigment with anticancer properties, on OS model systems.