That’s not astrology, it’s oncology: Tumors are now orbiting for science

Who would have thought that the International Space Station would, in a way, become a whole new cancer research centre? Yes, scientists are now growing real human tumors in space, and there is a good reason why.

The scientists behind this experiment are aiming to personalize cancer treatment. Instead of the currently used chemotherapy that is assigned to cancer patients, researchers are collecting data on how each individual tumor reacts to drugs.

Here’s how this works: scientists take samples of microtumors fromactual patient biopsies and then later grow them inside tiny automated labs that are sent to orbit. Unlike flat cell cultures in petri dishes on Earth (think your biology labs in school or images of fungus under a microscope), these 3D tumors form more naturally in space because of microgravity – it changes how cells move, grow, and interact.

On Earth, gravity flattens how cells grow in labs, thus making it harder to mimic how cancer really behaves in the body. But in space, tumor cells can float and organize in a more life-like way, which helps researchers better understand how they might react to real cancer drugs, Techspot explains a biotech startup’s Encapsulate method.

The study will focus on tumors from colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients, testing how they respond to chemotherapy – all while floating in low Earth orbit. Early results are promising, showing that tumors in space sometimes behave very differently than on Earth, thus unveiling new clues about how they resist or respond to drugs.

Once in space, astronauts just plug in the preloaded devices, and everything else is handled remotely from the ground. Researchers track the tumor growth and drug response in real time. If this works, doctors could one day test a patient’s tumor in a space-grown 3D model before trying any drugs in the patient’s body. This could help avoid treatments that won’t work and possibly speed up decisions that could lead to the drugs and treatments that stand the biggest chance to cure the patient.

The company’s setup is part of NASA’s In Space Production Applications program, and it just got a serious boost: $3.63 million from NASA and $1.25 million from the National Science Foundation. This allows the company to launch a full clinical study that involves major US cancer centers like UConn Health, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.