3D Printed Implants for Tumor Treatment in Children

Osteosarcomas are malignant bone tumors, and there are two to three new cases per million people per year. It is the most common primary malignant bone tumor, and 50 percent of cases occur in children and adolescents. The treatment of osteosarcoma involves surgical removal of the tumor, followed by reconstruction of the defect, usually by implanting a tumor endoprosthesis. The implant used depends on the tumor location and patient factors, but a major problem here is that conventional implants can impair bone growth in children. If a limb is secured by a rigid implant, for example, asymmetrical development can occur, meaning that one arm or leg remains shorter than the other. Additive manufacturing now offers an innovative solution to this problem.

To address the issue, Professor Anamika Prasad from Florida International University developed 3D-printed implants in the form of scaffold structures. They are made from FDA-approved materials. But how do the 3D-printed implants work, and how are they used? The 3D-printed implants can be thought of as temporary supports, similar to scaffolding in construction. They provide the bone cells with support and climbing opportunities on which new cells can then settle, thereby promoting natural bone growth instead of inhibiting it.

Osteosarcomas often affect long bones such as the femur, tibia and humerus.

Prasad applied her extensive knowledge of materials science and civil engineering to the development and also received support from Dr. Juan Pretell, head of musculoskeletal oncology surgery at Baptist Health. In addition, the project was funded by the Casey DeSantis Florida Center for Cancer Innovation Fund, provided by the Florida Department of Health, which greatly facilitated the production of patient-specific implants.

The first step for manufacturing the implants is to use imaging data to create computer-aided designs that are individually tailored to the patient’s anatomical features. With the combination of these designs and 3D printing, the customized implants hopefully can be used in future treatment. The researchers are currently working on making the method more cost-effective to make it accessible to a larger number of patients. Prasad emphasizes: “My dream is to revolutionize pediatric osteosarcoma treatment and have more engineers sitting with doctors in a hospital, working together to design efficient, affordable solutions for patients.” Find out more about the project HERE.

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*All Photo Credits: Florida International University