3D BIOPRINTING FOR PRECISION TUMOR MODELS IN ORAL CANCER RESEARCH: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Background: The production of extremely precise and adaptable tissue models made possible by 3D printing has completely changed the field of biomedical research. With the use of this technology, especially 3D bioprinting with bioinks, it is now possible to replicate intricate tissue architectures for use in drug testing and regenerative medicine. Aim: Evaluating developments in 3D bioprinting to produce accurate models of oral cancer tumors, emphasizing the contribution of bioinks to improving research efficacy, detection, and treatment. Methodology: This systematic review examined the effects of 3D bioprinting and bioinks on the creation of accurate, customized tumor models for study on oral cancer, adhering to PRISMA principles. Upon doing an extensive search across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, 296 publications published between 2019 and 2024 were found. Three of the five chosen articles met the requirements for a meta-analysis when inclusion and exclusion were applied. The review evaluated the accuracy, therapeutic efficacy, and individualized treatment potentials of 3D bioprinted models versus conventional 2D cell cultures in investigations on oral cancer. Three reviewers extracted data and evaluated its quality to guarantee consensus and dependability. They used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, ROBINS-I, and QUIN Tool for bias assessment. Results: The systematic review emphasizes the precision with which 3D bioprinting can create tumor models and highlights its advancements for cancer research. Certain malignancies have been the focus of techniques like SLS, Inkjet 3DP, SLA, and FDM; high-quality studies have received scores of up to 11 on the QUIN Tool. Blinding and result details are two areas that require improvement, according to the quality assessment. 2 studies had low risk of bias according to the ROBINS-I assessment, but 1 study had a moderate level of concern because of confounding circumstances. Conclusion: By producing more precise and useful tumor models, 3D bioprinting is transforming the field of cancer research. Drug testing and tailored medicine techniques are improved by these developments. For this technology to be properly utilized in clinical practice, future research should concentrate on standardizing bioprinting processes and addressing ethical issues.