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Affolter A, Lammert A, Kern J, Scherl C, Rotter N. Precision Medicine Gains Momentum: Novel 3D Models and Stem Cell-Based Approaches in Head and Neck Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:666515. [PMID: 34307351 PMCID: PMC8296983 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.666515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the current progress in the development of new concepts of precision medicine for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), in particular targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibition (CPI), overall survival rates have not improved during the last decades. This is, on the one hand, caused by the fact that a significant number of patients presents with late stage disease at the time of diagnosis, on the other hand HNSCC frequently develop therapeutic resistance. Distinct intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity is one of the strongest features in HNSCC and has hindered both the identification of specific biomarkers and the establishment of targeted therapies for this disease so far. To date, there is a paucity of reliable preclinical models, particularly those that can predict responses to immune CPI, as these models require an intact tumor microenvironment (TME). The "ideal" preclinical cancer model is supposed to take both the TME as well as tumor heterogeneity into account. Although HNSCC patients are frequently studied in clinical trials, there is a lack of reliable prognostic biomarkers allowing a better stratification of individuals who might benefit from new concepts of targeted or immunotherapeutic strategies. Emerging evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are highly tumorigenic. Through the process of stemness, epithelial cells acquire an invasive phenotype contributing to metastasis and recurrence. Specific markers for CSC such as CD133 and CD44 expression and ALDH activity help to identify CSC in HNSCC. For the majority of patients, allocation of treatment regimens is simply based on histological diagnosis and on tumor location and disease staging (clinical risk assessments) rather than on specific or individual tumor biology. Hence there is an urgent need for tools to stratify HNSCC patients and pave the way for personalized therapeutic options. This work reviews the current literature on novel approaches in implementing three-dimensional (3D) HNSCC in vitro and in vivo tumor models in the clinical daily routine. Stem-cell based assays will be particularly discussed. Those models are highly anticipated to serve as a preclinical prediction platform for the evaluation of stable biomarkers and for therapeutic efficacy testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Affolter
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Liu X, Fang J, Huang S, Wu X, Xie X, Wang J, Liu F, Zhang M, Peng Z, Hu N. Tumor-on-a-chip: from bioinspired design to biomedical application. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2021; 7:50. [PMID: 34567763 PMCID: PMC8433302 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00277-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of human death, despite enormous efforts to explore cancer biology and develop anticancer therapies. The main challenges in cancer research are establishing an efficient tumor microenvironment in vitro and exploring efficient means for screening anticancer drugs to reveal the nature of cancer and develop treatments. The tumor microenvironment possesses human-specific biophysical and biochemical factors that are difficult to recapitulate in conventional in vitro planar cell models and in vivo animal models. Therefore, model limitations have hindered the translation of basic research findings to clinical applications. In this review, we introduce the recent progress in tumor-on-a-chip devices for cancer biology research, medicine assessment, and biomedical applications in detail. The emerging tumor-on-a-chip platforms integrating 3D cell culture, microfluidic technology, and tissue engineering have successfully mimicked the pivotal structural and functional characteristics of the in vivo tumor microenvironment. The recent advances in tumor-on-a-chip platforms for cancer biology studies and biomedical applications are detailed and analyzed in this review. This review should be valuable for further understanding the mechanisms of the tumor evolution process, screening anticancer drugs, and developing cancer therapies, and it addresses the challenges and potential opportunities in predicting drug screening and cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaru Fang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuang Huang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ji Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Fanmao Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenwei Peng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ning Hu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510006 Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200050 Shanghai, China
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53
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Clark AM, Allbritton NL, Wells A. Integrative microphysiological tissue systems of cancer metastasis to the liver. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 71:157-169. [PMID: 32580025 PMCID: PMC7750290 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the most commonly involved organ in metastases from a wide variety of solid tumors. The use of biologically and cellularly complex liver tissue systems have shown that tumor cell behavior and therapeutic responses are modulated within the liver microenvironment and in ways distinct from the behaviors in the primary locations. These microphysiological systems have provided unexpected and powerful insights into the tumor cell biology of metastasis. However, neither the tumor nor the liver exist in an isolated tissue situation, having to function within a complete body and respond to systemic events as well as those in other organs. To examine the influence of one organ on the function of other tissues, microphysiological systems are being linked. Herein, we discuss extending this concept to tumor metastases by integrating complex models of the primary tumor with the liver metastatic environment. In addition, inflammatory organs and the immune system can be incorporated into these multi-organ systems to probe the effects on tumor behavior and cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Clark
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Nancy L Allbritton
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Alan Wells
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; Department of Computational & Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Strelez C, Chilakala S, Ghaffarian K, Lau R, Spiller E, Ung N, Hixon D, Yoon AY, Sun RX, Lenz HJ, Katz JE, Mumenthaler SM. Human colorectal cancer-on-chip model to study the microenvironmental influence on early metastatic spread. iScience 2021; 24:102509. [PMID: 34113836 PMCID: PMC8169959 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is a complex process that is not well understood. We describe an in vitro organ-on-chip model that emulates in vivo tissue structure and the tumor microenvironment (TME) to better understand intravasation, an early step in metastasis. The CRC-on-chip incorporates fluid flow and peristalsis-like cyclic stretching and consists of endothelial and epithelial compartments, separated by a porous membrane. On-chip imaging and effluent analyses are used to interrogate CRC progression and the resulting cellular heterogeneity. Mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiles are indicative of a CRC disease state. Tumor cells intravasate from the epithelial channel to the endothelial channel, revealing differences in invasion between aggressive and non-aggressive tumor cells. Tuning the TME by peristalsis-like mechanical forces, the epithelial:endothelial interface, and the addition of fibroblasts influences the invasive capabilities of tumor cells. The CRC-on-chip is a tunable human-relevant model system and a valuable tool to study early invasive events in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Strelez
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Sujatha Chilakala
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Kimya Ghaffarian
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Roy Lau
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Erin Spiller
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Nolan Ung
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Danielle Hixon
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Ah Young Yoon
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Ren X. Sun
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Heinz-Josef Lenz
- Division of Medical Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Jonathan E. Katz
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
| | - Shannon M. Mumenthaler
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Aleman J, Kilic T, Mille LS, Shin SR, Zhang YS. Microfluidic integration of regeneratable electrochemical affinity-based biosensors for continual monitoring of organ-on-a-chip devices. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:2564-2593. [PMID: 33911259 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Organs-on-chips have emerged as viable platforms for drug screening and personalized medicine. While a wide variety of human organ-on-a-chip models have been developed, rarely have there been reports on the inclusion of sensors, which are critical in continually measuring the microenvironmental parameters and the dynamic responses of the microtissues to pharmaceutical compounds over extended periods of time. In addition, automation capacity is strongly desired for chronological monitoring. To overcome this major hurdle, in this protocol we detail the fabrication of electrochemical affinity-based biosensors and their integration with microfluidic chips to achieve in-line microelectrode functionalization, biomarker detection and sensor regeneration, allowing continual, in situ and noninvasive quantification of soluble biomarkers on organ-on-a-chip platforms. This platform is almost universal and can be applied to in-line detection of a majority of biomarkers, can be connected with existing organ-on-a-chip devices and can be multiplexed for simultaneous measurement of multiple biomarkers. Specifically, this protocol begins with fabrication of the electrochemically competent microelectrodes and the associated microfluidic devices (~3 d). The integration of electrochemical biosensors with the chips and their further combination with the rest of the platform takes ~3 h. The functionalization and regeneration of the microelectrodes are subsequently described, which require ~7 h in total. One cycle of sampling and detection of up to three biomarkers accounts for ~1 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Aleman
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tugba Kilic
- Center for Systems Biology and Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luis S Mille
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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56
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Neophytou CM, Panagi M, Stylianopoulos T, Papageorgis P. The Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Metastasis: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092053. [PMID: 33922795 PMCID: PMC8122975 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Metastasis, the process by which cancer cells escape primary tumor site and colonize distant organs, is responsible for most cancer-related deaths. The tumor microenvironment (TME), comprises different cell types, including immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts, as well as structural elements, such as collagen and hyaluronan that constitute the extracellular matrix (ECM). Intratumoral interactions between the cellular and structural components of the TME regulate the aggressiveness, and dissemination of malignant cells and promote immune evasion. At the secondary site, the TME also facilitates escape from dormancy to enhance metastatic tumor outgrowth. Moreover, the ECM applies mechanical forces on tumors that contribute to hypoxia and cancer cell invasiveness whereas also hinders drug delivery and efficacy in both primary and metastatic sites. In this review, we summarize the latest developments regarding the role of the TME in cancer progression and discuss ongoing efforts to remodel the TME to stop metastasis in its tracks. Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) regulates essential tumor survival and promotion functions. Interactions between the cellular and structural components of the TME allow cancer cells to become invasive and disseminate from the primary site to distant locations, through a complex and multistep metastatic cascade. Tumor-associated M2-type macrophages have growth-promoting and immunosuppressive functions; mesenchymal cells mass produce exosomes that increase the migratory ability of cancer cells; cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) reorganize the surrounding matrix creating migration-guiding tracks for cancer cells. In addition, the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) exerts determinant roles in disease progression and cancer cell migration and regulates therapeutic responses. The hypoxic conditions generated at the primary tumor force cancer cells to genetically and/or epigenetically adapt in order to survive and metastasize. In the circulation, cancer cells encounter platelets, immune cells, and cytokines in the blood microenvironment that facilitate their survival and transit. This review discusses the roles of different cellular and structural tumor components in regulating the metastatic process, targeting approaches using small molecule inhibitors, nanoparticles, manipulated exosomes, and miRNAs to inhibit tumor invasion as well as current and future strategies to remodel the TME and enhance treatment efficacy to block the detrimental process of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana M. Neophytou
- European University Research Center, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
- Tumor Microenvironment, Metastasis and Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus; (M.P.); (T.S.)
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus; (M.P.); (T.S.)
| | - Panagiotis Papageorgis
- European University Research Center, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus;
- Tumor Microenvironment, Metastasis and Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory, Basic and Translational Cancer Research Center, Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +357-22-713158
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Ruiz-Espigares J, Nieto D, Moroni L, Jiménez G, Marchal JA. Evolution of Metastasis Study Models toward Metastasis-On-A-Chip: The Ultimate Model? SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2006009. [PMID: 33705602 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202006009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
For decades, several attempts have been made to obtain a mimetic model for the study of metastasis, the reason of most of deaths caused by cancer, in order to solve the unknown phenomena surrounding this disease. To better understand this cellular dissemination process, more realistic models are needed that are capable of faithfully recreating the entire and essential tumor microenvironment (TME). Thus, new tools known as tumor-on-a-chip and metastasis-on-a-chip have been recently proposed. These tools incorporate microfluidic systems and small culture chambers where TME can be faithfully modeled thanks to 3D bioprinting. In this work, a literature review has been developed about the different phases of metastasis, the remaining unknowns and the use of new models to study this disease. The aim is to provide a global vision of the current panorama and the great potential that these systems have for in vitro translational research on the molecular basis of the pathology. In addition, these models will allow progress toward a personalized medicine, generating chips from patient samples that mimic the original tumor and the metastatic process to perform a precise pharmacological screening by establishing the most appropriate treatment protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Ruiz-Espigares
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, 18016, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
| | - Daniel Nieto
- Photonics4life Research Group, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Physics, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15705, Spain
- Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229ER, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, MERLN Institute for Technology Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229ER, The Netherlands
| | - Gema Jiménez
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, 18016, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Marchal
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, 18016, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, E-18016, Spain
- Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, Granada, E-18071, Spain
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Graney PL, Tavakol DN, Chramiec A, Ronaldson-Bouchard K, Vunjak-Novakovic G. Engineered models of tumor metastasis with immune cell contributions. iScience 2021; 24:102179. [PMID: 33718831 PMCID: PMC7921600 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most cancer deaths are due to tumor metastasis rather than the primary tumor. Metastasis is a highly complex and dynamic process that requires orchestration of signaling between the tumor, its local environment, distant tissue sites, and immune system. Animal models of cancer metastasis provide the necessary systemic environment but lack control over factors that regulate cancer progression and often do not recapitulate the properties of human cancers. Bioengineered "organs-on-a-chip" that incorporate the primary tumor, metastatic tissue targets, and microfluidic perfusion are now emerging as quantitative human models of tumor metastasis. The ability of these systems to model tumor metastasis in individualized, patient-specific settings makes them uniquely suitable for studies of cancer biology and developmental testing of new treatments. In this review, we focus on human multi-organ platforms that incorporate circulating and tissue-resident immune cells in studies of tumor metastasis.
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59
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Esmaeili J, Barati A, Ai J, Nooshabadi VT, Mirzaei Z. Employing hydrogels in tissue engineering approaches to boost conventional cancer-based research and therapies. RSC Adv 2021; 11:10646-10669. [PMID: 35423538 PMCID: PMC8695814 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra00855b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complicated disease that involves the efforts of researchers to introduce and investigate novel successful treatments. Traditional cancer therapy approaches, especially chemotherapy, are prone to possible systemic side effects, such as the dysfunction of liver or kidney, neurological side effects and a decrease of bone marrow activity. Hydrogels, along with tissue engineering techniques, provide tremendous potential for scientists to overcome these issues through the release of drugs at the site of tumor. Hydrogels demonstrated competency as potent and stimulus-sensitive drug delivery systems for tumor removal, which is attributed to their unique features, including high water content, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In addition, hydrogels have gained more attention as 3D models for easier and faster screening of cancer and tumors due to their potential in mimicking the extracellular matrix. Hydrogels as a reservoir can be loaded by an effective dosage of chemotherapeutic agents, and then deliver them to targets. In comparison to conventional procedures, hydrogels considerably decreased the total cost, duration of research, and treatment time. This study provides a general look into the potential role of hydrogels as a powerful tool to augment cancer studies for better analysis of cancerous cell functions, cell survival, angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug screening. Moreover, the upstanding application of drug delivery systems related to the hydrogel in order to sustain the release of desired drugs in the tumor cell-site were explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Esmaeili
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University Arak Iran
- Department of Tissue Engineering, TISSUEHUB CO. Tehran Iran
| | - Abolfazl Barati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University Arak Iran
| | - Jafar Ai
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran 14177-55469 Iran
| | - Vajihe Taghdiri Nooshabadi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran 14177-55469 Iran
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences Semnan Iran
| | - Zeynab Mirzaei
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology Hafez str. 424 Tehran Iran
- Department of Tissue Engineering, TISSUEHUB CO. Tehran Iran
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60
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Rodrigues J, Heinrich MA, Teixeira LM, Prakash J. 3D In Vitro Model (R)evolution: Unveiling Tumor–Stroma Interactions. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:249-264. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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61
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Khan I, Prabhakar A, Delepine C, Tsang H, Pham V, Sur M. A low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor and imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:024105. [PMID: 33868534 PMCID: PMC8043249 DOI: 10.1063/5.0041027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Organoids are biological systems grown in vitro and are observed to self-organize into 3D cellular tissues of specific organs. Brain organoids have emerged as valuable models for the study of human brain development in health and disease. Researchers are now in need of improved culturing and imaging tools to capture the in vitro dynamics of development processes in the brain. Here, we describe the design of a microfluidic chip and bioreactor, to enable in situ tracking and imaging of brain organoids on-chip. The low-cost 3D printed microfluidic bioreactor supports organoid growth and provides an optimal imaging chamber for live-organoid imaging, with drug delivery support. This fully isolated design of a live-cell imaging and culturing platform enables long-term live-imaging of the intact live brain organoids as it grows. We can thus analyze their self-organization in a controlled environment with high temporal and spatial resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikram Khan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian
Institute of Technology, Madras 600036, India
| | - Anil Prabhakar
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian
Institute of Technology, Madras 600036, India
| | - Chloe Delepine
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory,
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Hayley Tsang
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory,
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Vincent Pham
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory,
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Mriganka Sur
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory,
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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62
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Amos SE, Choi YS. The Cancer Microenvironment: Mechanical Challenges of the Metastatic Cascade. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:625859. [PMID: 33644019 PMCID: PMC7907606 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.625859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The metastatic cascade presents a significant challenge to patient survival in the fight against cancer. As metastatic cells disseminate and colonize a secondary site, stepwise exposure to microenvironment-specific mechanical stimuli influences and protects successful metastasis. Following cancerous transformation and associated cell recruitment, the tumor microenvironment (TME) becomes a mechanically complex niche, owing to changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and architecture. The ECM mechanically reprograms the cancer cell phenotype, priming cells for invasion. 2D and 3D hydrogel-based culture platforms approximate these environmental variables and permit investigations into tumor-dependent shifts in malignancy. Following TME modification, malignant cells must invade the local ECM, driven toward blood, and lymph vessels by sensing biochemical and biophysical gradients. Microfluidic chips recreate cancer-modified ECM tracks, empowering studies into modes of confined motility. Intravasation and extravasation consist of complex cancer-endothelial interactions that modify an otherwise submicron-scale migration. Perfused microfluidic platforms facilitate the physiological culture of endothelial cells and thus enhance the translatability of basic research into metastatic transendothelial migration. These platforms also shed light on the poorly understood circulating tumor cell, which defies adherent cell norms by surviving the shear stress of blood flow and avoiding anoikis. Metastatic cancers possess the plasticity to adapt to new mechanical conditions, permitting their invasiveness, and ensuring their survival against anomalous stimuli. Here, we review the cellular mechanics of metastasis in the context of current in vitro approaches. Advances that further expose the mechanisms underpinning the phenotypic fluidity of metastatic cancers remain central to the development of novel interventions targeting cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yu Suk Choi
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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Yoon PS, Del Piccolo N, Shirure VS, Peng Y, Kirane A, Canter RJ, Fields RC, George SC, Gholami S. Advances in Modeling the Immune Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 11:614300. [PMID: 33643296 PMCID: PMC7902698 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.614300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. CRC frequently metastasizes to the liver and these patients have a particularly poor prognosis. The infiltration of immune cells into CRC tumors and liver metastases accurately predicts disease progression and patient survival. Despite the evident influence of immune cells in the CRC tumor microenvironment (TME), efforts to identify immunotherapies for CRC patients have been limited. Here, we argue that preclinical model systems that recapitulate key features of the tumor microenvironment-including tumor, stromal, and immune cells; the extracellular matrix; and the vasculature-are crucial for studies of immunity in the CRC TME and the utility of immunotherapies for CRC patients. We briefly review the discoveries, advantages, and disadvantages of current in vitro and in vivo model systems, including 2D cell culture models, 3D culture systems, murine models, and organ-on-a-chip technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Sukwoo Yoon
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Nuala Del Piccolo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Venktesh S Shirure
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Yushuan Peng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Amanda Kirane
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Robert J Canter
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Ryan C Fields
- Department of Surgery, The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Steven C George
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sepideh Gholami
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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64
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Duzagac F, Saorin G, Memeo L, Canzonieri V, Rizzolio F. Microfluidic Organoids-on-a-Chip: Quantum Leap in Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:737. [PMID: 33578886 PMCID: PMC7916612 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ-like cell clusters, so-called organoids, which exhibit self-organized and similar organ functionality as the tissue of origin, have provided a whole new level of bioinspiration for ex vivo systems. Microfluidic organoid or organs-on-a-chip platforms are a new group of micro-engineered promising models that recapitulate 3D tissue structure and physiology and combines several advantages of current in vivo and in vitro models. Microfluidics technology is used in numerous applications since it allows us to control and manipulate fluid flows with a high degree of accuracy. This system is an emerging tool for understanding disease development and progression, especially for personalized therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment, which provide well-grounded, cost-effective, powerful, fast, and reproducible results. In this review, we highlight how the organoid-on-a-chip models have improved the potential of efficiency and reproducibility of organoid cultures. More widely, we discuss current challenges and development on organoid culture systems together with microfluidic approaches and their limitations. Finally, we describe the recent progress and potential utilization in the organs-on-a-chip practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahriye Duzagac
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy; (F.D.); (G.S.)
| | - Gloria Saorin
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy; (F.D.); (G.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Memeo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Mediterranean Institute of Oncology (IOM), 95029 Catania, Italy;
| | - Vincenzo Canzonieri
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Flavio Rizzolio
- Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, 30123 Venezia, Italy; (F.D.); (G.S.)
- Pathology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
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Picollet-D'hahan N, Zuchowska A, Lemeunier I, Le Gac S. Multiorgan-on-a-Chip: A Systemic Approach To Model and Decipher Inter-Organ Communication. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 39:788-810. [PMID: 33541718 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multiorgan-on-a-chip (multi-OoC) platforms have great potential to redefine the way in which human health research is conducted. After briefly reviewing the need for comprehensive multiorgan models with a systemic dimension, we highlight scenarios in which multiorgan models are advantageous. We next overview existing multi-OoC platforms, including integrated body-on-a-chip devices and modular approaches involving interconnected organ-specific modules. We highlight how multi-OoC models can provide unique information that is not accessible using single-OoC models. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges for the realization of multi-OoC platforms and their worldwide adoption. We anticipate that multi-OoC technology will metamorphose research in biology and medicine by providing holistic and personalized models for understanding and treating multisystem diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Picollet-D'hahan
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (IRIG) Biomicrotechnology and Functional Genomics (BIOMICS), Grenoble, France.
| | - Agnieszka Zuchowska
- Applied Microfluidics for Bioengineering Research (AMBER), MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Iris Lemeunier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (IRIG) Biomicrotechnology and Functional Genomics (BIOMICS), Grenoble, France
| | - Séverine Le Gac
- Applied Microfluidics for Bioengineering Research (AMBER), MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, TechMed Center, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
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Yoo KM, Murphy SV, Skardal A. A Rapid Crosslinkable Maleimide-Modified Hyaluronic Acid and Gelatin Hydrogel Delivery System for Regenerative Applications. Gels 2021; 7:13. [PMID: 33535669 PMCID: PMC7931058 DOI: 10.3390/gels7010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogels have played a significant role in many applications of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering due to their versatile properties in realizing design and functional requirements. However, as bioengineered solutions are translated towards clinical application, new hurdles and subsequent material requirements can arise. For example, in applications such as cell encapsulation, drug delivery, and biofabrication, in a clinical setting, hydrogels benefit from being comprised of natural extracellular matrix-based materials, but with defined, controllable, and modular properties. Advantages for these clinical applications include ultraviolet light-free and rapid polymerization crosslinking kinetics, and a cell-friendly crosslinking environment that supports cell encapsulation or in situ crosslinking in the presence of cells and tissue. Here we describe the synthesis and characterization of maleimide-modified hyaluronic acid (HA) and gelatin, which are crosslinked using a bifunctional thiolated polyethylene glycol (PEG) crosslinker. Synthesized products were evaluated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet visibility spectrometry, size exclusion chromatography, and pH sensitivity, which confirmed successful HA and gelatin modification, molecular weights, and readiness for crosslinking. Gelation testing both by visual and NMR confirmed successful and rapid crosslinking, after which the hydrogels were characterized by rheology, swelling assays, protein release, and barrier function against dextran diffusion. Lastly, biocompatibility was assessed in the presence of human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, showing continued proliferation with or without the hydrogel. These initial studies present a defined, and well-characterized extracellular matrix (ECM)-based hydrogel platform with versatile properties suitable for a variety of applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Min Yoo
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA;
| | - Sean V. Murphy
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA;
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Fontana Labs., 140 W. 19th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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Guo QR, Zhang LL, Liu JF, Li Z, Li JJ, Zhou WM, Wang H, Li JQ, Liu DY, Yu XY, Zhang JY. Multifunctional microfluidic chip for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanotheranostics 2021; 5:73-89. [PMID: 33391976 PMCID: PMC7738943 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.49614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic chip is not a chip in the traditional sense. It is technologies that control fluids at the micro level. As a burgeoning biochip, microfluidic chips integrate multiple disciplines, including physiology, pathology, cell biology, biophysics, engineering mechanics, mechanical design, materials science, and so on. The application of microfluidic chip has shown tremendous promise in the field of cancer therapy in the past three decades. Various types of cell and tissue cultures, including 2D cell culture, 3D cell culture and tissue organoid culture could be performed on microfluidic chips. Patient-derived cancer cells and tissues can be cultured on microfluidic chips in a visible, controllable, and high-throughput manner, which greatly advances the process of personalized medicine. Moreover, the functionality of microfluidic chip is greatly expanding due to the customizable nature. In this review, we introduce its application in developing cancer preclinical models, detecting cancer biomarkers, screening anti-cancer drugs, exploring tumor heterogeneity and producing nano-drugs. We highlight the functions and recent development of microfluidic chip to provide references for advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-Ru Guo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Ling-Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Ji-Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R.China
| | - Jia-Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Wen-Min Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Hui Wang
- Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics/Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Jing-Quan Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, P.R.China
| | - Da-Yu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Xi-Yong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China
| | - Jian-Ye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Target & Clinical Pharmacology and the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R.China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, P.R.China
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Porter RJ, Murray GI, McLean MH. Current concepts in tumour-derived organoids. Br J Cancer 2020; 123:1209-1218. [PMID: 32728094 PMCID: PMC7555542 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-0993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer comprises a collection of highly proliferative and heterogeneous cells growing within an adaptive and evolving tumour microenvironment. Cancer survival rates have significantly improved following decades of cancer research. However, many experimental and preclinical studies do not translate to the bedside, reflecting the challenges of modelling the complexities and multicellular basis of human disease. Organoids are novel, complex, three-dimensional ex vivo tissue cultures that are derived from embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells or tissue-resident progenitor cells, and represent a near-physiological model for studying cancer. Organoids develop by self-organisation, and can accurately represent the diverse genetic, cellular and pathophysiological hallmarks of cancer. In addition, co-culture methods and the ability to genetically manipulate these organoids have widened their utility in cancer research. Organoids thus offer a new and exciting platform for studying cancer and directing personalised therapies. This review aims to highlight how organoids are shaping the future of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross J Porter
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Graeme I Murray
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - Mairi H McLean
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
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69
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Sivakumar H, Devarasetty M, Kram DE, Strowd RE, Skardal A. Multi-Cell Type Glioblastoma Tumor Spheroids for Evaluating Sub-Population-Specific Drug Response. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:538663. [PMID: 33042963 PMCID: PMC7523412 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.538663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal, incurable form of cancer in the brain. Even with maximally aggressive surgery and chemoradiotherapy, median patient survival is 14.5 months. These tumors infiltrate normal brain tissue, are surgically incurable, and universally recur. GBMs are characterized by genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental heterogeneity, and they evolve spontaneously over time and as a result of treatment. However, tracking such heterogeneity in real time in response to drug treatments has been impossible. Here we describe the development of an in vitro GBM tumor organoid model that is comprised of five distinct cellular subpopulations (4 GBM cell lines that represent GBM subpopulations and 1 astrocyte line), each fluorescently labeled with a different color. These multi-cell type GBM organoids are then embedded in a brain-like hyaluronic acid hydrogel for subsequent studies involving drug treatments and tracking of changes in relative numbers of each fluorescently unique subpopulation. This approach allows for the visual assessment of drug influence on individual subpopulations within GBM, and in future work can be expanded to supporting studies using patient tumor biospecimen-derived cells for personalized diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemamylammal Sivakumar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Mahesh Devarasetty
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - David E. Kram
- Section of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Roy E. Strowd
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Translational Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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70
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Bürtin F, Mullins CS, Linnebacher M. Mouse models of colorectal cancer: Past, present and future perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:1394-1426. [PMID: 32308343 PMCID: PMC7152519 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i13.1394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common diagnosed malignancy among both sexes in the United States as well as in the European Union. While the incidence and mortality rates in western, high developed countries are declining, reflecting the success of screening programs and improved treatment regimen, a rise of the overall global CRC burden can be observed due to lifestyle changes paralleling an increasing human development index. Despite a growing insight into the biology of CRC and many therapeutic improvements in the recent decades, preclinical in vivo models are still indispensable for the development of new treatment approaches. Since the development of carcinogen-induced rodent models for CRC more than 80 years ago, a plethora of animal models has been established to study colon cancer biology. Despite tenuous invasiveness and metastatic behavior, these models are useful for chemoprevention studies and to evaluate colitis-related carcinogenesis. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) mirror the pathogenesis of sporadic as well as inherited CRC depending on the specific molecular pathways activated or inhibited. Although the vast majority of CRC GEMM lack invasiveness, metastasis and tumor heterogeneity, they still have proven useful for examination of the tumor microenvironment as well as systemic immune responses; thus, supporting development of new therapeutic avenues. Induction of metastatic disease by orthotopic injection of CRC cell lines is possible, but the so generated models lack genetic diversity and the number of suited cell lines is very limited. Patient-derived xenografts, in contrast, maintain the pathological and molecular characteristics of the individual patient’s CRC after subcutaneous implantation into immunodeficient mice and are therefore most reliable for preclinical drug development – even in comparison to GEMM or cell line-based analyses. However, subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft models are less suitable for studying most aspects of the tumor microenvironment and anti-tumoral immune responses. The authors review the distinct mouse models of CRC with an emphasis on their clinical relevance and shed light on the latest developments in the field of preclinical CRC models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Bürtin
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock 18057, Germany
| | - Christina S Mullins
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock 18057, Germany
| | - Michael Linnebacher
- Molecular Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock 18057, Germany
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Rajan SAP, Skardal A, Hall AR. Multi-Domain Photopatterned 3D Tumor Constructs in a Micro-Physiological System for Analysis, Quantification, and Isolation of Infiltrating Cells. ADVANCED BIOSYSTEMS 2020; 4:e1900273. [PMID: 32293164 PMCID: PMC7323471 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201900273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cell motility plays a central role in metastasis and tumor invasion but can be difficult to study accurately in vitro. A simple approach to address this challenge through the production of monolithic, photopatterned 3D tumor constructs in situ in a microfluidic device is described here. Through step-wise fabrication of adjoining hydrogel regions with and without incorporated cells, multidomain structures with defined boundaries are produced. By imaging cells over time, cellular activity with arbitrary control over medium conditions, including drug concentration and flow rate, is studied. First, malignant human colon carcinoma cells (HCT116) are studied for 10 days, comparing invasion dynamics and viability of cells in normal media to those exposed to two independent chemotherapeutic drugs: anti-proliferative 5-fluorouracil and anti-migratory Marimastat. Cytotoxicity is measured and significant differences are observed in cellular dynamics (migrating cell count, distance traveled, and rate) that correlate with the mechanism of each drug. Then, the platform is applied to the selective isolation of infiltrated cells through the photopatterning and subsequent dissolution of cleavable hydrogel domains. As a demonstration, the preferential collection of highly migratory cells (HCT116) over a comparable cell line with low malignancy and migratory potential (Caco-2) is shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiny A P Rajan
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, USA
| | - Adam R Hall
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
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Mathur L, Ballinger M, Utharala R, Merten CA. Microfluidics as an Enabling Technology for Personalized Cancer Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1904321. [PMID: 31747127 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201904321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Tailoring patient-specific treatments for cancer is necessary in order to achieve optimal results but requires new diagnostic approaches at affordable prices. Microfluidics has immense potential to provide solutions for this, as it enables the processing of samples that are not available in large quantities (e.g., cells from patient biopsies), is cost efficient, provides a high level of automation, and allows the set-up of complex models for cancer studies. In this review, individual solutions in the fields of genetics, circulating tumor cell monitoring, biomarker analysis, phenotypic drug sensitivity tests, and systems providing controlled environments for disease modeling are discussed. An overview on how these early stage achievements can be combined or developed further is showcased, and the required translational steps before microfluidics becomes a routine tool for clinical applications are critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Mathur
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martine Ballinger
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ramesh Utharala
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph A Merten
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
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Skardal A, Aleman J, Forsythe S, Rajan S, Murphy S, Devarasetty M, Pourhabibi Zarandi N, Nzou G, Wicks R, Sadri-Ardekani H, Bishop C, Soker S, Hall A, Shupe T, Atala A. Drug compound screening in single and integrated multi-organoid body-on-a-chip systems. Biofabrication 2020; 12:025017. [PMID: 32101533 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ab6d36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Current practices in drug development have led to therapeutic compounds being approved for widespread use in humans, only to be later withdrawn due to unanticipated toxicity. These occurrences are largely the result of erroneous data generated by in vivo and in vitro preclinical models that do not accurately recapitulate human physiology. Herein, a human primary cell- and stem cell-derived 3D organoid technology is employed to screen a panel of drugs that were recalled from market by the FDA. The platform is comprised of multiple tissue organoid types that remain viable for at least 28 days, in vitro. For many of these compounds, the 3D organoid system was able to demonstrate toxicity. Furthermore, organoids exposed to non-toxic compounds remained viable at clinically relevant doses. Additional experiments were performed on integrated multi-organoid systems containing liver, cardiac, lung, vascular, testis, colon, and brain. These integrated systems proved to maintain viability and expressed functional biomarkers, long-term. Examples are provided that demonstrate how multi-organoid 'body-on-a-chip' systems may be used to model the interdependent metabolism and downstream effects of drugs across multiple tissues in a single platform. Such 3D in vitro systems represent a more physiologically relevant model for drug screening and will likely reduce the cost and failure rate associated with the approval of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksander Skardal
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States of America. Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 1080 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States of America
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Andrei L, Kasas S, Ochoa Garrido I, Stanković T, Suárez Korsnes M, Vaclavikova R, Assaraf YG, Pešić M. Advanced technological tools to study multidrug resistance in cancer. Drug Resist Updat 2020; 48:100658. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2019.100658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Votanopoulos KI, Forsythe S, Sivakumar H, Mazzocchi A, Aleman J, Miller L, Levine E, Triozzi P, Skardal A. Model of Patient-Specific Immune-Enhanced Organoids for Immunotherapy Screening: Feasibility Study. Ann Surg Oncol 2019; 27:1956-1967. [PMID: 31858299 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-019-08143-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We hypothesized that engineering a combined lymph node/melanoma organoid from the same patient would allow tumor, stroma, and immune system to remain viable for personalized immunotherapy screening. METHODS Surgically obtained matched melanoma and lymph node biospecimens from the same patient were transferred to the laboratory and washed with saline, antibiotic, and red blood cell lysis buffer. Biospecimens were dissociated, incorporated into an extracellular matrix (ECM)-based hydrogel system, and biofabricated into three dimensional (3D) mixed melanoma/node organoids. Cells were not sorted, so as to preserve tumor heterogeneity, including stroma and immune cell components, resulting in immune-enhanced patient tumor organoids (iPTOs). Organoid sets were screened in parallel with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, and dabrafenib/trametinib for 72 h. LIVE/DEAD staining and quantitative metabolism assays recorded relative drug efficacy. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to compare tumor melanoma cells with organoid melanoma cells. Lastly, node-enhanced iPTOs were employed to activate patient-matched peripheral blood T cells for killing of tumor cells in naïve PTOs. RESULTS Ten biospecimen sets obtained from eight stage III and IV melanoma patients were reconstructed as symbiotic immune/tumor organoids between September 2017 and June 2018. Successful establishment of viable organoid sets was 90% (9/10), although organoid yield varied with biospecimen size. Average time from organoid development to initiation of immunotherapy testing was 7 days. In three patients for whom a node was not available, it was substituted with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. iPTO response to immunotherapy was similar to specimen clinical response in 85% (6/7) patients. In an additional pilot study, peripheral T cells were circulated through iPTOs, and subsequently transferred to naïve PTOs from the same patient, resulting in tumor killing, suggesting a possible role of iPTOs in generating adaptive immunity. CONCLUSION Development of 3D mixed immune-enhanced tumor/node organoids is a feasible platform, allowing individual patient immune system and tumor cells to remain viable for studying of personalized immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos I Votanopoulos
- Department of Surgery - Oncology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Wake Forest Organoid Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Steven Forsythe
- Wake Forest Organoid Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Hemamylammal Sivakumar
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Andrea Mazzocchi
- Wake Forest Organoid Research Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Julio Aleman
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Lance Miller
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Edward Levine
- Department of Surgery - Oncology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Pierre Triozzi
- Department of Surgery - Oncology, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.,Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. .,The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Forsythe S, Pu T, Skardal A. Using organoid models to predict chemotherapy efficacy: the future of precision oncology? EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2019.1685868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Steven Forsythe
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Tracey Pu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Bowman Gray Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Bowman Gray Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Translational Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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Aleman J, George SK, Herberg S, Devarasetty M, Porada CD, Skardal A, Almeida-Porada G. Deconstructed Microfluidic Bone Marrow On-A-Chip to Study Normal and Malignant Hemopoietic Cell-Niche Interactions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1902971. [PMID: 31464364 PMCID: PMC8011350 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Human hematopoietic niches are complex specialized microenvironments that maintain and regulate hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC). Thus far, most of the studies performed investigating alterations of HSPC-niche dynamic interactions are conducted in animal models. Herein, organ microengineering with microfluidics is combined to develop a human bone marrow (BM)-on-a-chip with an integrated recirculating perfusion system that consolidates a variety of important parameters such as 3D architecture, cell-cell/cell-matrix interactions, and circulation, allowing a better mimicry of in vivo conditions. The complex BM environment is deconvoluted to 4 major distinct, but integrated, tissue-engineered 3D niche constructs housed within a single, closed, recirculating microfluidic device system, and equipped with cell tracking technology. It is shown that this technology successfully enables the identification and quantification of preferential interactions-homing and retention-of circulating normal and malignant HSPC with distinct niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Aleman
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Sunil K George
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Samuel Herberg
- Department of Opthamology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, 4609 Institute for Human Performance, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Mahesh Devarasetty
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Christopher D Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Aleksander Skardal
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
| | - Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, USA
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Bray LJ, Hutmacher DW, Bock N. Addressing Patient Specificity in the Engineering of Tumor Models. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:217. [PMID: 31572718 PMCID: PMC6751285 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment is challenged by the heterogeneous nature of cancer, where prognosis depends on tumor type and disease stage, as well as previous treatments. Optimal patient stratification is critical for the development and validation of effective treatments, yet pre-clinical model systems are lacking in the delivery of effective individualized platforms that reflect distinct patient-specific clinical situations. Advances in cancer cell biology, biofabrication, and microengineering technologies have led to the development of more complex in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models to act as drug testing platforms and to elucidate novel cancer mechanisms. Mostly, these strategies have enabled researchers to account for the tumor microenvironment context including tumor-stroma interactions, a key factor of heterogeneity that affects both progression and therapeutic resistance. This is aided by state-of-the-art biomaterials and tissue engineering technologies, coupled with reproducible and high-throughput platforms that enable modeling of relevant physical and chemical factors. Yet, the translation of these models and technologies has been impaired by neglecting to incorporate patient-derived cells or tissues, and largely focusing on immortalized cell lines instead, contributing to drug failure rates. While this is a necessary step to establish and validate new models, a paradigm shift is needed to enable the systematic inclusion of patient-derived materials in the design and use of such models. In this review, we first present an overview of the components responsible for heterogeneity in different tumor microenvironments. Next, we introduce the state-of-the-art of current in vitro 3D cancer models employing patient-derived materials in traditional scaffold-free approaches, followed by novel bioengineered scaffold-based approaches, and further supported by dynamic systems such as bioreactors, microfluidics, and tumor-on-a-chip devices. We critically discuss the challenges and clinical prospects of models that have succeeded in providing clinical relevance and impact, and present emerging concepts of novel cancer model systems that are addressing patient specificity, the next frontier to be tackled by the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Bray
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Dietmar W. Hutmacher
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre (APCRC-Q), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Additive Biomanufacturing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
| | - Nathalie Bock
- Centre in Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre (APCRC-Q), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Targeting Tumor Microenvironment for Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20040840. [PMID: 30781344 PMCID: PMC6413095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 717] [Impact Index Per Article: 143.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer development is highly associated to the physiological state of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Despite the existing heterogeneity of tumors from the same or from different anatomical locations, common features can be found in the TME maturation of epithelial-derived tumors. Genetic alterations in tumor cells result in hyperplasia, uncontrolled growth, resistance to apoptosis, and metabolic shift towards anaerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect). These events create hypoxia, oxidative stress and acidosis within the TME triggering an adjustment of the extracellular matrix (ECM), a response from neighbor stromal cells (e.g., fibroblasts) and immune cells (lymphocytes and macrophages), inducing angiogenesis and, ultimately, resulting in metastasis. Exosomes secreted by TME cells are central players in all these events. The TME profile is preponderant on prognosis and impacts efficacy of anti-cancer therapies. Hence, a big effort has been made to develop new therapeutic strategies towards a more efficient targeting of TME. These efforts focus on: (i) therapeutic strategies targeting TME components, extending from conventional therapeutics, to combined therapies and nanomedicines; and (ii) the development of models that accurately resemble the TME for bench investigations, including tumor-tissue explants, “tumor on a chip” or multicellular tumor-spheroids.
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