Recreating complex pathophysiologies in vitro with extracellular matrix surrogates for anticancer therapeutics screening

•2D systems are the preferred in vitro tumour models owing to their simplicity.•Decellularised tissue grafts and monolayers are used as 3D in vitro tumour models.•Hydrogels, electrospun fibres and sponges are used as 3D in vitro tumour models.•3D systems imitate closely the architectural milieu of the tumour microenvironment.