From normal fibroblasts to synthetic CAFs: Enabling the next generation of tumor microenvironment modes

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are among the most influential components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), playing a critical role in tumor progression, immune modulation, metastasis, and therapeutic response.

As researchers seek more predictive and reproducible in vitro models, understanding and recreating CAF biology has become an important focus in oncology research.

To support scientists working in cancer biology and cell culture applications, we’ll conduct a webinar "From normal fibroblasts to synthetic CAFs", presented in collaboration with Oncology Central.

What you’ll learn:

This educational session explores how fibroblasts can be transformed into synthetic cancer-associated fibroblast models and how these advanced systems can improve the study of tumor-stroma interactions. Participants will gain insights into the challenges associated with cancer-associated fibroblasts and discover innovative approaches that enable more physiologically relevant cancer research.

• How PDOs and tumor slice cultures differ in tumor microenvironment preservation, scalability, reproducibility, and experimental timescale
• Where each model offers advantages for drug screening, immunotherapy research, and other translational applications
• Key practical considerations when establishing and maintaining PDO and tumor tissue culture workflows
• How tumor slice cultures and PDOs can be used as complementary models to generate insights from the same patient material

Join our webinar:

Thursday, November 5, 2026

7AM PST / 10AM EST / 3PM GMT / 4PM CET

This webinar is free and open to the public.
Can’t attend live? No problem. The webinar will also be available to watch on demand after the event.

The tumor microenvironment is increasingly recognized as a key driver of cancer behavior. Among its many cellular components, CAFs actively influence tumor growth, extracellular matrix remodeling, immune cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and treatment resistance.

However, studying CAF biology remains challenging due to their heterogeneity and limited availability from primary patient samples. Synthetic CAFs offer researchers a promising alternative by providing controlled, reproducible systems that enable deeper investigation of tumor-stroma interactions and therapeutic responses.

By incorporating these advanced models into their workflows, scientists can generate more consistent data and gain valuable insights into mechanisms that shape disease progression.

Alexander Trampe, Ph.D
Cancer Specialist & Project Manager at PromoCell

Alexander Trampe is a Scientific Support Specialist at PromoCell (Heidelberg, Germany) and Project Manager of the Cancer Media Toolbox. For nearly 18 years, he has helped researchers advance their work with human primary cells, cancer cell culture and clinically relevant 3D models. His work focuses on developing more representative tumor microenvironment models by combining different cellular components, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Alexander holds a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of Lübeck (Germany) and a degree in biochemistry from the University of Bielefeld (Germany).