Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide despite significant advances in diagnosis and treatment. A major challenge in the development of effective therapeutics is the lack of preclinical models that accurately recapitulate the complex tumour microenvironment. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems fail to reproduce the three-dimensional architecture, extracellular matrix interactions, mechanical cues, and dynamic biochemical gradients that influence tumour progression and drug response. Animal models, although valuable, often exhibit species-specific differences that limit their predictive power for human clinical outcomes. Consequently, there is an urgent need for physiologically relevant human-based in vitro models that can improve drug discovery while reducing dependence on animal experimentation.

The proposed research aims to design and develop an advanced in vitro breast cancer model that closely mimics the structural, biochemical, and biomechanical characteristics of the human tumour microenvironment. The model will integrate three-dimensional cell culture with microengineering approaches to recreate key features such as extracellular matrix composition, cell-cell interactions, nutrient transport, and controlled perfusion. Depending on the specific application, stromal cells, endothelial cells, or immune components may be incorporated to better represent the tumour ecosystem.