Abstract:
Introduction. Breast cancer represents a current problem due to high morbidity, mortality and
disability. About 685,000 women worldwide die from breast cancer annually. Only 1.3% are
detected in the early stages, while 24% in the late stages. Although mastectomy is an important and
definitive treatment option for some patients, it is often associated with substantial psychological,
social, and sexual sequelae, as well as a significant distortion of body image. Along with the
development of personalized medicine, the principles and methods of diagnosis and treatment, 3D
printing technologies have a promising role, aimed at improving the management of breast cancer
patients by creating anatomical models of tumors for explanatory and operational purposes, as well
as of safe, compatible and easily tolerated breast implants.
Materials and methods. A literature review was performed using scientific articles from PubMed,
NCBI, Frontiersin, 3D Printing in Medicine, databases for a period of 5 years. Keywords used in the
search: breast cancer, bioprinting, 3D printing, 3D implants, personalized medicine.
Results. This review of scientific articles highlights the main achievements in the field of 3D
printing in the management of breast cancer patients. Scanning and subsequent three-dimensional
printing of tumors allows the detailed explanation of the tumor process to patients. Also, it
facilitates the choice of an appropriate and personalized therapeutic tactic. New printing
technologies, including bioprinting, allow the modeling and creation of mammary gland implants
using hypoallergenic, durable and compatible materials with the formation of patient-specific bioabsorbable matrices (scaffolds). Different types of stem cells and growth factors can be seeded on
the scaffolds, similar to the extracellular matrix, ensuring the processes of cell growth and
angiogenesis. These scaffolds, which are later resorbed by the body, keep the injected adipose tissue
safe and minimize the significant volume loss of breast adipose tissue typically seen in the
lipofilling technique.
Conclusion. Although 3D printing technologies are in development and testing stages yet, they
represent an important chain in the appropriate future of personalized medicine in the management
of breast cancer patients.
