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Crnic A, Rohringer S, Tyschuk T, Holnthoner W. Engineering blood and lymphatic microvascular networks. Atherosclerosis 2024; 393:117458. [PMID: 38320921 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2024.117458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The human vasculature plays a crucial role in the blood supply of nearly all organs as well as the drainage of the interstitial fluid. Consequently, if these physiological systems go awry, pathological changes might occur. Hence, the regeneration of existing vessels, as well as approaches to engineer artificial blood and lymphatic structures represent current challenges within the field of vascular research. In this review, we provide an overview of both the vascular blood circulation and the long-time neglected but equally important lymphatic system, with regard to their organotypic vasculature. We summarize the current knowledge within the field of vascular tissue engineering focusing on the design of co-culture systems, thereby mainly discussing suitable cell types, scaffold design and disease models. This review will mainly focus on addressing those subjects concerning atherosclerosis. Moreover, current technological approaches such as vascular organ-on-a-chip models and microfluidic devices will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aldina Crnic
- Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Traumatology, The Research Centre in Cooperation with AUVA, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Rohringer
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria; Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tatiana Tyschuk
- Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Traumatology, The Research Centre in Cooperation with AUVA, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Holnthoner
- Ludwig-Boltzmann-Institute for Traumatology, The Research Centre in Cooperation with AUVA, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1020 Vienna, Austria.
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2
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Mierke CT. Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Bidirectionality, Universal Cues, Plasticity, Mechanics, and the Tumor Microenvironment Drive Cancer Metastasis. Biomolecules 2024; 14:184. [PMID: 38397421 PMCID: PMC10887446 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor diseases become a huge problem when they embark on a path that advances to malignancy, such as the process of metastasis. Cancer metastasis has been thoroughly investigated from a biological perspective in the past, whereas it has still been less explored from a physical perspective. Until now, the intraluminal pathway of cancer metastasis has received the most attention, while the interaction of cancer cells with macrophages has received little attention. Apart from the biochemical characteristics, tumor treatments also rely on the tumor microenvironment, which is recognized to be immunosuppressive and, as has recently been found, mechanically stimulates cancer cells and thus alters their functions. The review article highlights the interaction of cancer cells with other cells in the vascular metastatic route and discusses the impact of this intercellular interplay on the mechanical characteristics and subsequently on the functionality of cancer cells. For instance, macrophages can guide cancer cells on their intravascular route of cancer metastasis, whereby they can help to circumvent the adverse conditions within blood or lymphatic vessels. Macrophages induce microchannel tunneling that can possibly avoid mechanical forces during extra- and intravasation and reduce the forces within the vascular lumen due to vascular flow. The review article highlights the vascular route of cancer metastasis and discusses the key players in this traditional route. Moreover, the effects of flows during the process of metastasis are presented, and the effects of the microenvironment, such as mechanical influences, are characterized. Finally, the increased knowledge of cancer metastasis opens up new perspectives for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth System Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Kraus S, Lee E. A human initial lymphatic chip reveals distinct mechanisms of primary lymphatic valve dysfunction in acute and chronic inflammation. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:5180-5194. [PMID: 37981867 PMCID: PMC10908576 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00486d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Interstitial fluid uptake and retention by lymphatic vessels (LVs) play a role in maintaining interstitial fluid homeostasis. While it is well-established that intraluminal lymphatic valves in the collecting LVs prevent fluid backflow (secondary lymphatic valves), a separate valve system in the initial LVs that only permits interstitial fluid influx into the LVs, preventing fluid leakage back to the interstitium (primary lymphatic valves), remains incompletely understood. Although lymphatic dysfunction is commonly observed in inflammation and autoimmune diseases, how the primary lymphatic valves are affected by acute and chronic inflammation has scarcely been explored and even less so using in vitro lymphatic models. Here, we developed a human initial lymphatic vessel chip where interstitial fluid pressure and luminal fluid pressure are controlled to examine primary lymph valve function. In normal conditions, lymphatic drainage (fluid uptake) and permeability (fluid leakage) in engineered LVs were maintained high and low, respectively, which was consistent with our understanding of healthy primary lymph valves. Next, we examined the effects of acute and chronic inflammation. Under the acute inflammation condition with a TNF-α treatment (2 hours), degradation of fibrillin and impeded lymphatic drainage were observed, which were reversed by treatment with anti-inflammatory dexamethasone. Surprisingly, the chronic inflammation condition (repeated TNF-α treatments during 48 hours) deposited fibrillin to compensate for the fibrillin loss, showing no change in lymphatic drainage. Instead, the chronic inflammation condition led to cell death and disruption of lymphatic endothelial cell-cell junctions, increasing lymphatic permeability and fluid leakage. Our human lymphatic model shows two distinct mechanisms by which primary lymphatic valve dysfunction occurs in acute and chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Kraus
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Juste-Lanas Y, Hervas-Raluy S, García-Aznar JM, González-Loyola A. Fluid flow to mimic organ function in 3D in vitro models. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:031501. [PMID: 37547671 PMCID: PMC10404142 DOI: 10.1063/5.0146000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many different strategies can be found in the literature to model organ physiology, tissue functionality, and disease in vitro; however, most of these models lack the physiological fluid dynamics present in vivo. Here, we highlight the importance of fluid flow for tissue homeostasis, specifically in vessels, other lumen structures, and interstitium, to point out the need of perfusion in current 3D in vitro models. Importantly, the advantages and limitations of the different current experimental fluid-flow setups are discussed. Finally, we shed light on current challenges and future focus of fluid flow models applied to the newest bioengineering state-of-the-art platforms, such as organoids and organ-on-a-chip, as the most sophisticated and physiological preclinical platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Hervas-Raluy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Research Institute of Aragón (I3A), University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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Ilan IS, Yslas AR, Peng Y, Lu R, Lee E. A 3D Human Lymphatic Vessel-on-Chip Reveals the Roles of Interstitial Flow and VEGF-A/C for Lymphatic Sprouting and Discontinuous Junction Formation. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:325-339. [PMID: 37811004 PMCID: PMC10550886 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00780-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lymphatic vessels (LVs) maintain fluid homeostasis by draining excess interstitial fluid, which is accomplished by two distinct LVs: initial LVs and collecting LVs. The interstitial fluid is first drained into the initial LVs through permeable "button-like" lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) junctions. Next, the drained fluid ("lymph") transports to lymph nodes through the collecting LVs with less permeable "zipper-like" junctions that minimize loss of lymph. Despite the significance of LEC junctions in lymphatic drainage and transport, it remains unclear how luminal or interstitial flow affects LEC junctions in vascular endothelial growth factors A and C (VEGF-A and VEGF-C) conditions. Moreover, it remains unclear how these flow and growth factor conditions impact lymphatic sprouting. Methods We developed a 3D human lymphatic vessel-on-chip that can generate four different flow conditions (no flow, luminal flow, interstitial flow, both luminal and interstitial flow) to allow an engineered, rudimentary LV to experience those flows and respond to them in VEGF-A/C. Results We examined LEC junction discontinuities, lymphatic sprouting, LEC junction thicknesses, and cell contractility-dependent vessel diameters in the four different flow conditions in VEGF-A/C. We discovered that interstitial flow in VEGF-C generates discontinuous LEC junctions that may be similar to the button-like junctions with no lymphatic sprouting. However, interstitial flow or both luminal and interstitial flow stimulated lymphatic sprouting in VEGF-A, maintaining zipper-like LEC junctions. LEC junction thickness and cell contractility-dependent vessel diameters were not changed by those conditions. Conclusions In this study, we provide an engineered lymphatic vessel platform that can generate four different flow regimes and reveal the roles of interstitial flow and VEGF-A/C for lymphatic sprouting and discontinuous junction formation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-023-00780-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle S. Ilan
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Aria R. Yslas
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yansong Peng
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Renhao Lu
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, 302 Weill Hall, 237 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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Peng AY, Lee BE. Microphysiological Systems for Cancer Immunotherapy Research and Development. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023:e2300077. [PMID: 37409385 PMCID: PMC10770294 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy focuses on the use of patients' adaptive immune systems to combat cancer. In the past decade, FDA has approved many immunotherapy products for cancer patients who suffer from primary tumors, tumor relapse, and metastases. However, these immunotherapies still show resistance in many patients and often lead to inconsistent responses in patients due to variations in tumor genetic mutations and tumor immune microenvironment. Microfluidics-based organ-on-a-chip technologies or microphysiological systems have opened new ways that can provide relatively fast screening for personalized immunotherapy and help researchers and clinicians understand tumor-immune interactions in a patient-specific manner. They also have the potential to overcome the limitations of traditional drug screening and testing, given the models provide a more realistic 3D microenvironment with better controllability, reproducibility, and physiological relevance. This review focuses on the cutting-edge microphysiological organ-on-a-chip devices developed in recent years for studying cancer immunity and testing cancer immunotherapeutic agents, as well as some of the largest challenges of translating this technology to clinical applications in immunotherapy and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Yansong Peng
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - B. Esak Lee
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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7
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Bogseth A, Ramirez A, Vaughan E, Maisel K. In Vitro Models of Blood and Lymphatic Vessels-Connecting Tissues and Immunity. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2200041. [PMID: 35751460 PMCID: PMC9790046 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Blood and lymphatic vessels are regulators of physiological processes, including oxygenation and fluid transport. Both vessels are ubiquitous throughout the body and are critical for sustaining tissue homeostasis. The complexity of each vessel's processes has limited the understanding of exactly how the vessels maintain their functions. Both vessels have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer metastasis, and it is crucial to probe further specific mechanisms involved. In vitro models are developed to better understand blood and lymphatic physiological functions and their mechanisms. In this review, blood and lymphatic in vitro model systems, including 2D and 3D designs made using Transwells, microfluidic devices, organoid cultures, and various other methods, are described. Models studying endothelial cell-extracellular matrix interactions, endothelial barrier properties, transendothelial transport and cell migration, lymph/angiogenesis, vascular inflammation, and endothelial-cancer cell interactions are particularly focused. While the field has made significant progress in modeling and understanding lymphatic and blood vasculature, more models that include coculture of multiple cell types, complex extracellular matrix, and 3D morphologies, particularly for models mimicking disease states, will help further the understanding of the role of blood and lymphatic vasculature in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Bogseth
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Ann Ramirez
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Erik Vaughan
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
| | - Katharina Maisel
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
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Wang W, Taufalele PV, Millet M, Homsy K, Smart K, Berestesky ED, Schunk CT, Rowe MM, Bordeleau F, Reinhart-King CA. Matrix stiffness regulates tumor cell intravasation through expression and ESRP1-mediated alternative splicing of MENA. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112338. [PMID: 37027295 PMCID: PMC10551051 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During intravasation, cancer cells cross the endothelial barrier and enter the circulation. Extracellular matrix stiffening has been correlated with tumor metastatic potential; however, little is known about the effects of matrix stiffness on intravasation. Here, we utilize in vitro systems, a mouse model, specimens from patients with breast cancer, and RNA expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) to investigate the molecular mechanism by which matrix stiffening promotes tumor cell intravasation. Our data show that heightened matrix stiffness increases MENA expression, which promotes contractility and intravasation through focal adhesion kinase activity. Further, matrix stiffening decreases epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) expression, which triggers alternative splicing of MENA, decreases the expression of MENA11a, and enhances contractility and intravasation. Altogether, our data indicate that matrix stiffness regulates tumor cell intravasation through enhanced expression and ESRP1-mediated alternative splicing of MENA, providing a mechanism by which matrix stiffness regulates tumor cell intravasation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Paul V Taufalele
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Martial Millet
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Kevin Homsy
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Kyra Smart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Emily D Berestesky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Curtis T Schunk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Matthew M Rowe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Francois Bordeleau
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada; CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center (Oncology Division), Québec, QC G1R 3S3, Canada; Département de biologie moléculaire, de biochimie médicale et de pathologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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Suarez AC, Hammel JH, Munson JM. Modeling lymphangiogenesis: Pairing in vitro and in vivo metrics. Microcirculation 2023; 30:e12802. [PMID: 36760223 PMCID: PMC10121924 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Lymphangiogenesis is the mechanism by which the lymphatic system develops and expands new vessels facilitating fluid drainage and immune cell trafficking. Models to study lymphangiogenesis are necessary for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to identify or test new therapeutic agents that target lymphangiogenesis. Across the lymphatic literature, multiple models have been developed to study lymphangiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, lymphangiogenesis can be modeled with varying complexity, from monolayers to hydrogels to explants, with common metrics for characterizing proliferation, migration, and sprouting of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and vessels. In comparison, in vivo models of lymphangiogenesis often use genetically modified zebrafish and mice, with in situ mouse models in the ear, cornea, hind leg, and tail. In vivo metrics, such as activation of LECs, number of new lymphatic vessels, and sprouting, mirror those most used in vitro, with the addition of lymphatic vessel hyperplasia and drainage. The impacts of lymphangiogenesis vary by context of tissue and pathology. Therapeutic targeting of lymphangiogenesis can have paradoxical effects depending on the pathology including lymphedema, cancer, organ transplant, and inflammation. In this review, we describe and compare lymphangiogenic outcomes and metrics between in vitro and in vivo studies, specifically reviewing only those publications in which both testing formats are used. We find that in vitro studies correlate well with in vivo in wound healing and development, but not in the reproductive tract or the complex tumor microenvironment. Considerations for improving in vitro models are to increase complexity with perfusable microfluidic devices, co-cultures with tissue-specific support cells, the inclusion of fluid flow, and pairing in vitro models of differing complexities. We believe that these changes would strengthen the correlation between in vitro and in vivo outcomes, giving more insight into lymphangiogenesis in healthy and pathological states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen C. Suarez
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Jennifer H. Hammel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
| | - Jennifer M. Munson
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA
- Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering & Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
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Johnson A, Reimer S, Childres R, Cupp G, Kohs TCL, McCarty OJT, Kang Y(A. The Applications and Challenges of the Development of In Vitro Tumor Microenvironment Chips. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:3-21. [PMID: 36660587 PMCID: PMC9842840 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-022-00755-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical, yet mechanistically elusive role in tumor development and progression, as well as drug resistance. To better understand the pathophysiology of the complex TME, a reductionist approach has been employed to create in vitro microfluidic models called "tumor chips". Herein, we review the fabrication processes, applications, and limitations of the tumor chips currently under development for use in cancer research. Tumor chips afford capabilities for real-time observation, precise control of microenvironment factors (e.g. stromal and cellular components), and application of physiologically relevant fluid shear stresses and perturbations. Applications for tumor chips include drug screening and toxicity testing, assessment of drug delivery modalities, and studies of transport and interactions of immune cells and circulating tumor cells with primary tumor sites. The utility of tumor chips is currently limited by the ability to recapitulate the nuances of tumor physiology, including extracellular matrix composition and stiffness, heterogeneity of cellular components, hypoxic gradients, and inclusion of blood cells and the coagulome in the blood microenvironment. Overcoming these challenges and improving the physiological relevance of in vitro tumor models could provide powerful testing platforms in cancer research and decrease the need for animal and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Johnson
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian Street, #6088, Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Samuel Reimer
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian Street, #6088, Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Ryan Childres
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian Street, #6088, Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Grace Cupp
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian Street, #6088, Newberg, OR 97132 USA
| | - Tia C. L. Kohs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Owen J. T. McCarty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201 USA
| | - Youngbok (Abraham) Kang
- Department of Mechanical, Civil, and Biomedical Engineering, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian Street, #6088, Newberg, OR 97132 USA
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Seibel AJ, Kelly OM, Dance YW, Nelson CM, Tien J. Role of Lymphatic Endothelium in Vascular Escape of Engineered Human Breast Microtumors. Cell Mol Bioeng 2022; 15:553-569. [PMID: 36531861 PMCID: PMC9751254 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-022-00745-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lymphatic vasculature provides a route for metastasis to secondary sites in the body. The role of the lymphatic endothelium in mediating the entry of breast cancer cells into the vasculature remains unclear. Methods In this study, we formed aggregates of MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells next to human microvascular lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC)-lined cavities in type I collagen gels to model breast microtumors and lymphatic vessels, respectively. We tracked invasion and escape of breast microtumors into engineered lymphatics or empty cavities under matched flow rates for up to sixteen days. Results After coming into contact with a lymphatic vessel, tumor cells escape by moving between the endothelium and the collagen wall, between endothelial cells, and/or into the endothelial lumen. Over time, tumor cells replace the LECs within the vessel wall and create regions devoid of endothelium. The presence of lymphatic endothelium slows breast tumor invasion and escape, and addition of LEC-conditioned medium to tumors is sufficient to reproduce nearly all of these inhibitory effects. Conclusions This work sheds light on the interactions between breast cancer cells and lymphatic endothelium during vascular escape and reveals an inhibitory role for the lymphatic endothelium in breast tumor invasion and escape. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-022-00745-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J. Seibel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Owen M. Kelly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Yoseph W. Dance
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Celeste M. Nelson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, 303 Hoyt Laboratory, 25 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ USA
| | - Joe Tien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA USA
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12
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Condelipes PGM, Fontes PM, Godinho-Santos A, Brás EJS, Marques V, Afonso MB, Rodrigues CMP, Chu V, Gonçalves J, Conde JP. Towards personalized antibody cancer therapy: development of a microfluidic cell culture device for antibody selection. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:4717-4728. [PMID: 36349999 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00918h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antibody therapy has been one of the most successful therapies for a wide range of diseases, including cancer. One way of expediting antibody therapy development is through phage display technology. Here, by screening thousands of randomly assembled peptide sequences, it is possible to identify potential therapeutic candidates. Conventional screening technologies do not accommodate perfusion through the system, as is the case of standard plate-based cultures. This leads to a poor translation of the experimental results obtained in vitro when moving to a more physiologically relevant setting, such as the case of preclinical animal models or clinical trials. Microfluidics is a technology that can improve screening efficacy by replicating more physiologically relevant conditions such as shear stress. In this work, a polydimethylsiloxane/polystyrene-based microfluidic system for a continuously perfused culture of cancer cells is reported. Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT116) expressing CXCR4 were used as a cell target. Fluorescently labeled M13 phages anti-CXCR4 were used to study the efficiency of the microfluidic system as a tool to study the binding kinetics of the engineered bacteriophages. Using our microfluidic platform, we estimated a dissociation constant of 0.45 pM for the engineered phage. Additionally, a receptor internalization assay was developed using SDF-1α to verify phage specificity to the CXCR4 receptor. Upon receptor internalization there was a signal reduction, proving that the anti-CXCR4 fluorescently labelled M13 phages bound specifically to the CXCR4 receptor. The simplicity and ease of use of the microfluidic device design presented in this work can form the basis of a generic platform that facilitates the study and optimization of therapies based on interaction with biological entities such as mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro G M Condelipes
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Pedro Mendes Fontes
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Lisbon, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Godinho-Santos
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eduardo J S Brás
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Lisbon, Portugal
- IBB - Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vanda Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta B Afonso
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Virginia Chu
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Gonçalves
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Pedro Conde
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores - Microsistemas e Nanotecnologias (INESC MN), Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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13
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Recent Advances in Drug Delivery System Fabricated by Microfluidics for Disease Therapy. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9110625. [DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9110625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional drug therapy faces challenges such as drug distribution throughout the body, rapid degradation and excretion, and extensive adverse reactions. In contrast, micro/nanoparticles can controllably deliver drugs to target sites to improve drug efficacy. Unlike traditional large-scale synthetic systems, microfluidics allows manipulation of fluids at the microscale and shows great potential in drug delivery and precision medicine. Well-designed microfluidic devices have been used to fabricate multifunctional drug carriers using stimuli-responsive materials. In this review, we first introduce the selection of materials and processing techniques for microfluidic devices. Then, various well-designed microfluidic chips are shown for the fabrication of multifunctional micro/nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles. Finally, we describe the interaction of drugs with lymphatic vessels that are neglected in organs-on-chips. Overall, the accelerated development of microfluidics holds great potential for the clinical translation of micro/nanoparticle drug delivery systems for disease treatment.
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14
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Abstract
The lymphatic system, composed of initial and collecting lymphatic vessels as well as lymph nodes that are present in almost every tissue of the human body, acts as an essential transport system for fluids, biomolecules and cells between peripheral tissues and the central circulation. Consequently, it is required for normal body physiology but is also involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, most notably cancer. The important role of tumor-associated lymphatic vessels and lymphangiogenesis in the formation of lymph node metastasis has been elucidated during the last two decades, whereas the underlying mechanisms and the relation between lymphatic and peripheral organ dissemination of cancer cells are incompletely understood. Lymphatic vessels are also important for tumor-host communication, relaying molecular information from a primary or metastatic tumor to regional lymph nodes and the circulatory system. Beyond antigen transport, lymphatic endothelial cells, particularly those residing in lymph node sinuses, have recently been recognized as direct regulators of tumor immunity and immunotherapy responsiveness, presenting tumor antigens and expressing several immune-modulatory signals including PD-L1. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries in this rapidly evolving field and highlight strategies and challenges of therapeutic targeting of lymphatic vessels or specific lymphatic functions in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lothar C Dieterich
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Carlotta Tacconi
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Ducoli
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Detmar
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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15
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Unraveling Cancer Metastatic Cascade Using Microfluidics-based Technologies. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:517-543. [PMID: 35528034 PMCID: PMC9043145 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00944-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has long been a leading cause of death. The primary tumor, however, is not the main cause of death in more than 90% of cases. It is the complex process of metastasis that makes cancer deadly. The invasion metastasis cascade is the multi-step biological process of cancer cell dissemination to distant organ sites and adaptation to the new microenvironment site. Unraveling the metastasis process can provide great insight into cancer death prevention or even treatment. Microfluidics is a promising platform, that provides a wide range of applications in metastasis-related investigations. Cell culture microfluidic technologies for in vitro modeling of cancer tissues with fluid flow and the presence of mechanical factors have led to the organ-on-a-chip platforms. Moreover, microfluidic systems have also been exploited for capturing and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that provide crucial information on the metastatic behavior of a tumor. We present a comprehensive review of the recent developments in the application of microfluidics-based systems for analysis and understanding of the metastasis cascade from a wider perspective.
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16
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Shou Y, Johnson SC, Quek YJ, Li X, Tay A. Integrative lymph node-mimicking models created with biomaterials and computational tools to study the immune system. Mater Today Bio 2022; 14:100269. [PMID: 35514433 PMCID: PMC9062348 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The lymph node (LN) is a vital organ of the lymphatic and immune system that enables timely detection, response, and clearance of harmful substances from the body. Each LN comprises of distinct substructures, which host a plethora of immune cell types working in tandem to coordinate complex innate and adaptive immune responses. An improved understanding of LN biology could facilitate treatment in LN-associated pathologies and immunotherapeutic interventions, yet at present, animal models, which often have poor physiological relevance, are the most popular experimental platforms. Emerging biomaterial engineering offers powerful alternatives, with the potential to circumvent limitations of animal models, for in-depth characterization and engineering of the lymphatic and adaptive immune system. In addition, mathematical and computational approaches, particularly in the current age of big data research, are reliable tools to verify and complement biomaterial works. In this review, we first discuss the importance of lymph node in immunity protection followed by recent advances using biomaterials to create in vitro/vivo LN-mimicking models to recreate the lymphoid tissue microstructure and microenvironment, as well as to describe the related immuno-functionality for biological investigation. We also explore the great potential of mathematical and computational models to serve as in silico supports. Furthermore, we suggest how both in vitro/vivo and in silico approaches can be integrated to strengthen basic patho-biological research, translational drug screening and clinical personalized therapies. We hope that this review will promote synergistic collaborations to accelerate progress of LN-mimicking systems to enhance understanding of immuno-complexity.
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17
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Bekisz S, Baudin L, Buntinx F, Noël A, Geris L. In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Models of Lymphangiogenesis in Solid Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14061525. [PMID: 35326676 PMCID: PMC8946816 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14061525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Lymphangiogenesis is the formation of new lymphatic vessels in physiological conditions but has also been found to be associated with pathologies. For example, it has been proven to be involved in cancer progression and metastatic dissemination through the body. Thus, it became a key element to study in the management of this widespread disease. To date, the study of lymphangiogenesis takes place at the biological (in vitro and in vivo) and computational (in silico) levels. The association of these complementary fields combined with imaging techniques constitutes a real toolbox in pathological lymphangiogenesis understanding. Abstract Lymphangiogenesis (LA) is the formation of new lymphatic vessels by lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) sprouting from pre-existing lymphatic vessels. It is increasingly recognized as being involved in many diseases, such as in cancer and secondary lymphedema, which most often results from cancer treatments. For some cancers, excessive LA is associated with cancer progression and metastatic dissemination to the lymph nodes (LNs) through lymphatic vessels. The study of LA through in vitro, in vivo, and, more recently, in silico models is of paramount importance in providing novel insights and identifying the key molecular actors in the biological dysregulation of this process under pathological conditions. In this review, the different biological (in vitro and in vivo) models of LA, especially in a cancer context, are explained and discussed, highlighting their principal modeled features as well as their advantages and drawbacks. Imaging techniques of the lymphatics, complementary or even essential to in vivo models, are also clarified and allow the establishment of the link with computational approaches. In silico models are introduced, theoretically described, and illustrated with examples specific to the lymphatic system and the LA. Together, these models constitute a toolbox allowing the LA research to be brought to the next level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Bekisz
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In silico Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
- Correspondence:
| | - Louis Baudin
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (L.B.); (F.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Florence Buntinx
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (L.B.); (F.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Agnès Noël
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium; (L.B.); (F.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Liesbet Geris
- Biomechanics Research Unit, GIGA In silico Medicine, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
- Biomechanics Section, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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18
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Beeghly GF, Amofa KY, Fischbach C, Kumar S. Regulation of Tumor Invasion by the Physical Microenvironment: Lessons from Breast and Brain Cancer. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2022; 24:29-59. [PMID: 35119915 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-110220-115419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The success of anticancer therapies is often limited by heterogeneity within and between tumors. While much attention has been devoted to understanding the intrinsic molecular diversity of tumor cells, the surrounding tissue microenvironment is also highly complex and coevolves with tumor cells to drive clinical outcomes. Here, we propose that diverse types of solid tumors share common physical motifs that change in time and space, serving as universal regulators of malignancy. We use breast cancer and glioblastoma as instructive examples and highlight how invasion in both diseases is driven by the appropriation of structural guidance cues, contact-dependent heterotypic interactions with stromal cells, and elevated interstitial fluid pressure and flow. We discuss how engineering strategies show increasing value for measuring and modeling these physical properties for mechanistic studies. Moreover, engineered systems offer great promise for developing and testing novel therapies that improve patient prognosis by normalizing the physical tumor microenvironment. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, Volume 24 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett F Beeghly
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA;
| | - Kwasi Y Amofa
- University of California, Berkeley-University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, California, USA; .,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Claudia Fischbach
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA; .,Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- University of California, Berkeley-University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, California, USA; .,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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19
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Chakrabarty S, Quiros-Solano WF, Kuijten MM, Haspels B, Mallya S, Lo CSY, Othman A, Silvestri C, van de Stolpe A, Gaio N, Odijk H, van de Ven M, de Ridder CM, van Weerden WM, Jonkers J, Dekker R, Taneja N, Kanaar R, van Gent DC. A Microfluidic Cancer-on-Chip Platform Predicts Drug Response Using Organotypic Tumor Slice Culture. Cancer Res 2022; 82:510-520. [PMID: 34872965 PMCID: PMC9397621 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Optimal treatment of cancer requires diagnostic methods to facilitate therapy choice and prevent ineffective treatments. Direct assessment of therapy response in viable tumor specimens could fill this diagnostic gap. Therefore, we designed a microfluidic platform for assessment of patient treatment response using tumor tissue slices under precisely controlled growth conditions. The optimized Cancer-on-Chip (CoC) platform maintained viability and sustained proliferation of breast and prostate tumor slices for 7 days. No major changes in tissue morphology or gene expression patterns were observed within this time frame, suggesting that the CoC system provides a reliable and effective way to probe intrinsic chemotherapeutic sensitivity of tumors. The customized CoC platform accurately predicted cisplatin and apalutamide treatment response in breast and prostate tumor xenograft models, respectively. The culture period for breast cancer could be extended up to 14 days without major changes in tissue morphology and viability. These culture characteristics enable assessment of treatment outcomes and open possibilities for detailed mechanistic studies. SIGNIFICANCE: The Cancer-on-Chip platform with a 6-well plate design incorporating silicon-based microfluidics can enable optimal patient-specific treatment strategies through parallel culture of multiple tumor slices and diagnostic assays using primary tumor material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjiban Chakrabarty
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - William F. Quiros-Solano
- Department of Microelectronics, Electronic Components, Technology and Materials, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.,BIOND Solutions B.V., Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Maayke M.P. Kuijten
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ben Haspels
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sandeep Mallya
- Department of Bioinformatics, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Calvin Shun Yu Lo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Amr Othman
- BIOND Solutions B.V., Delft, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Hanny Odijk
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke van de Ven
- Preclinical Intervention Unit, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Corrina M.A. de Ridder
- Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wytske M. van Weerden
- Department of Urology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Jonkers
- Preclinical Intervention Unit, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Ageing, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald Dekker
- Department of Microelectronics, Electronic Components, Technology and Materials, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands.,Philips Research, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Nitika Taneja
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roland Kanaar
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Dik C. van Gent
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Corresponding Author: Dik C. van Gent, Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Erasmus University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam 3015GD, the Netherlands. Phone: 31-10-7043932; E-mail:
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20
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Cook SR, Musgrove HB, Throckmorton AL, Pompano RR. Microscale impeller pump for recirculating flow in organs-on-chip and microreactors. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:605-620. [PMID: 34988560 PMCID: PMC8892988 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01081f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fluid flow is an integral part of microfluidic and organ-on-chip technology, ideally providing biomimetic fluid, cell, and nutrient exchange as well as physiological or pathological shear stress. Currently, many of the pumps that actively perfuse fluid at biomimetic flow rates are incompatible with use inside cell culture incubators, require many tubing connections, or are too large to run many devices in a confined space. To address these issues, we developed a user-friendly impeller pump that uses a 3D-printed device and impeller to recirculate fluid and cells on-chip. Impeller rotation was driven by a rotating magnetic field generated by magnets mounted on a computer fan; this pump platform required no tubing connections and could accommodate up to 36 devices at once in a standard cell culture incubator. A computational model was used to predict shear stress, velocity, and changes in pressure throughout the device. The impeller pump generated biomimetic fluid velocities (50-6400 μm s-1) controllable by tuning channel and inlet dimensions and the rotational speed of the impeller, which were comparable to the order of magnitude of the velocities predicted by the computational model. Predicted shear stress was in the physiological range throughout the microchannel and over the majority of the impeller. The impeller pump successfully recirculated primary murine splenocytes for 1 h and Jurkat T cells for 24 h with no impact on cell viability, showing the impeller pump's feasibility for white blood cell recirculation on-chip. In the future, we envision that this pump will be integrated into single- or multi-tissue platforms to study communication between organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie R Cook
- Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 248 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
| | - Hannah B Musgrove
- Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 248 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
| | - Amy L Throckmorton
- BioCirc Research Laboratory, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, Philadelphia, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca R Pompano
- Departments of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 248 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
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21
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Caballero D, Reis RL, Kundu SC. Current Trends in Microfluidics and Biosensors for Cancer Research Applications. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1379:81-112. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-04039-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Nath S, Pigula M, Hasan T, Rizvi I. A Perfusion Model to Evaluate Response to Photodynamic Therapy in 3D Tumors. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2451:49-58. [PMID: 35505009 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2099-1_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Numerous cancer models have been developed to investigate the effects of mechanical stress on the biology of cells. Here we describe a protocol to fabricate a perfusion model to culture 3-dimensional (3D) ovarian cancer nodules under constant flow. The modular design of this model allows for a wide range of treatment regimens and combinations, including PDT and chemotherapy. Finally, methods for a number of readouts are detailed, allowing researchers to investigate a variety of biological and cytotoxic parameters related to mechanical stress and therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhankar Nath
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Pigula
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tayyaba Hasan
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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23
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Selahi A, Fernando T, Chakraborty S, Muthuchamy M, Zawieja DC, Jain A. Lymphangion-chip: a microphysiological system which supports co-culture and bidirectional signaling of lymphatic endothelial and muscle cells. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:121-135. [PMID: 34850797 PMCID: PMC9761984 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00720c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The pathophysiology of several lymphatic diseases, such as lymphedema, depends on the function of lymphangions that drive lymph flow. Even though the signaling between the two main cellular components of a lymphangion, endothelial cells (LECs) and muscle cells (LMCs), is responsible for crucial lymphatic functions, there are no in vitro models that have included both cell types. Here, a fabrication technique (gravitational lumen patterning or GLP) is developed to create a lymphangion-chip. This organ-on-chip consists of co-culture of a monolayer of endothelial lumen surrounded by multiple and uniformly thick layers of muscle cells. The platform allows construction of a wide range of luminal diameters and muscular layer thicknesses, thus providing a toolbox to create variable anatomy. In this device, lymphatic muscle cells align circumferentially while endothelial cells aligned axially under flow, as only observed in vivo in the past. This system successfully characterizes the dynamics of cell size, density, growth, alignment, and intercellular gap due to co-culture and shear. Finally, exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines reveals that the device could facilitate the regulation of endothelial barrier function through the lymphatic muscle cells. Therefore, this bioengineered platform is suitable for use in preclinical research of lymphatic and blood mechanobiology, inflammation, and translational outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirali Selahi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, 101 Bizzell Street College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Teshan Fernando
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, 101 Bizzell Street College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Sanjukta Chakraborty
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Mariappan Muthuchamy
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - David C Zawieja
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Abhishek Jain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Texas A&M University, 101 Bizzell Street College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, TX, USA
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, USA
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24
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Modeling Tumor: Lymphatic Interactions in Lymphatic Metastasis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236044. [PMID: 34885152 PMCID: PMC8656640 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Lymphatic metastasis is a critical prognostic factor of breast cancer aggressiveness and patient survival. Since existing therapeutic approaches have shown limited efficacy, new strategies to identify effective therapeutic targets for reducing breast cancer lymphatic metastasis are needed. We have used novel culture chambers, designed and fabricated by our group, to develop 3D models in which we can study spat ial interactions between breast cancer cells and lymphatic cells as they occur in real-time. This approach provides information on the complex cell–cell interactions involved in lymphatic metastasis of breast cancers. Factors in the secretome of the lymphatic cells promote invasive outgrowths from 3D cultures of breast cancer cells, suggesting that targeting interactions between breast cancer cells and lymphatic cells could be a potential therapeutic approach for the prevention of lymphatic metastasis. Abstract Breast cancer frequently metastasizes to lymphatics and the presence of breast cancer cells in regional lymph nodes is an important prognostic factor. Delineating the mechanisms by which breast cancer cells disseminate and spatiotemporal aspects of interactions between breast cancer cells and lymphatics is needed to design new therapies to prevent lymphatic metastases. As triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a high incidence of lymphatic metastasis, we used a three-dimensional (3D) coculture model of human TNBC cells and human microvascular lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) to analyze TNBC:LEC interactions. Non-invasive analyses such as live-cell imaging in real-time and collection of conditioned media for secretomic analysis were facilitated by our novel microfluidic chambers. The volumes of 3D structures formed in TNBC:LEC cocultures are greater than that of 3D structures formed by either LEC or TNBC monocultures. Over 4 days of culture there is an increase in multicellular invasive outgrowths from TNBC spheroids and an association of TNBC spheroids with LEC networks. The increase in invasive phenotype also occurred when TNBC spheroids were cultured in LEC-conditioned media and in wells linked to ones containing LEC networks. Our results suggest that modeling spatiotemporal interactions between TNBC and LECs may reveal paracrine signaling that could be targeted to reduce lymphatic metastasis.
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25
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Habanjar O, Diab-Assaf M, Caldefie-Chezet F, Delort L. 3D Cell Culture Systems: Tumor Application, Advantages, and Disadvantages. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12200. [PMID: 34830082 PMCID: PMC8618305 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The traditional two-dimensional (2D) in vitro cell culture system (on a flat support) has long been used in cancer research. However, this system cannot be fully translated into clinical trials to ideally represent physiological conditions. This culture cannot mimic the natural tumor microenvironment due to the lack of cellular communication (cell-cell) and interaction (cell-cell and cell-matrix). To overcome these limitations, three-dimensional (3D) culture systems are increasingly developed in research and have become essential for tumor research, tissue engineering, and basic biology research. 3D culture has received much attention in the field of biomedicine due to its ability to mimic tissue structure and function. The 3D matrix presents a highly dynamic framework where its components are deposited, degraded, or modified to delineate functions and provide a platform where cells attach to perform their specific functions, including adhesion, proliferation, communication, and apoptosis. So far, various types of models belong to this culture: either the culture based on natural or synthetic adherent matrices used to design 3D scaffolds as biomaterials to form a 3D matrix or based on non-adherent and/or matrix-free matrices to form the spheroids. In this review, we first summarize a comparison between 2D and 3D cultures. Then, we focus on the different components of the natural extracellular matrix that can be used as supports in 3D culture. Then we detail different types of natural supports such as matrigel, hydrogels, hard supports, and different synthetic strategies of 3D matrices such as lyophilization, electrospiding, stereolithography, microfluid by citing the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Finally, we summarize the different methods of generating normal and tumor spheroids, citing their respective advantages and disadvantages in order to obtain an ideal 3D model (matrix) that retains the following characteristics: better biocompatibility, good mechanical properties corresponding to the tumor tissue, degradability, controllable microstructure and chemical components like the tumor tissue, favorable nutrient exchange and easy separation of the cells from the matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Habanjar
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, INRAE, UNH, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, CRNH-Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (O.H.); (F.C.-C.)
| | - Mona Diab-Assaf
- Equipe Tumorigénèse Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Anticancéreuse, Faculté des Sciences II, Université Libanaise Fanar, Beyrouth 1500, Liban;
| | - Florence Caldefie-Chezet
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, INRAE, UNH, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, CRNH-Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (O.H.); (F.C.-C.)
| | - Laetitia Delort
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, INRAE, UNH, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, CRNH-Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (O.H.); (F.C.-C.)
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26
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Cho Y, Na K, Jun Y, Won J, Yang JH, Chung S. Three-Dimensional In Vitro Lymphangiogenesis Model in Tumor Microenvironment. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:697657. [PMID: 34671596 PMCID: PMC8520924 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.697657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphangiogenesis is a stage of new lymphatic vessel formation in development and pathology, such as inflammation and tumor metastasis. Physiologically relevant models of lymphatic vessels have been in demand because studies on lymphatic vessels are required for understanding the mechanism of tumor metastasis. In this study, a new three-dimensional lymphangiogenesis model in a tumor microenvironment is proposed, using a newly designed macrofluidic platform. It is verified that controllable biochemical and biomechanical cues, which contribute to lymphangiogenesis, can be applied in this platform. In particular, this model demonstrates that a reconstituted lymphatic vessel has an in vivo–like lymphatic vessel in both physical and biochemical aspects. Since biomechanical stress with a biochemical factor influences robust directional lymphatic sprouting, whether our model closely approximates in vivo, the initial lymphatics in terms of the morphological and genetic signatures is investigated. Furthermore, attempting an incorporation with a tumor spheroid, this study successfully develops a complex tumor microenvironment model for use in lymphangiogenesis and reveals the microenvironment factors that contribute to tumor metastasis. As a first attempt at a coculture model, this reconstituted model is a novel system with a fully three-dimensional structure and can be a powerful tool for pathological drug screening or disease model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngkyu Cho
- Department of IT Convergence, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Samsung Research, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyuhwan Na
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yesl Jun
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Pediatric Diabetes Research Center, University of California, La Jolla, CA, United States.,Drug Discovery Platform Research Center, Therapeutics and Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Jihee Won
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Hun Yang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Next&Bio Inc., Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seok Chung
- Department of IT Convergence, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,School of Mechanical Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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27
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Malik M, Yang Y, Fathi P, Mahler GJ, Esch MB. Critical Considerations for the Design of Multi-Organ Microphysiological Systems (MPS). Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:721338. [PMID: 34568333 PMCID: PMC8459628 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.721338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification and approval of new drugs for use in patients requires extensive preclinical studies and clinical trials. Preclinical studies rely on in vitro experiments and animal models of human diseases. The transferability of drug toxicity and efficacy estimates to humans from animal models is being called into question. Subsequent clinical studies often reveal lower than expected efficacy and higher drug toxicity in humans than that seen in animal models. Microphysiological systems (MPS), sometimes called organ or human-on-chip models, present a potential alternative to animal-based models used for drug toxicity screening. This review discusses multi-organ MPS that can be used to model diseases and test the efficacy and safety of drug candidates. The translation of an in vivo environment to an in vitro system requires physiologically relevant organ scaling, vascular dimensions, and appropriate flow rates. Even small changes in those parameters can alter the outcome of experiments conducted with MPS. With many MPS devices being developed, we have outlined some established standards for designing MPS devices and described techniques to validate the devices. A physiologically realistic mimic of the human body can help determine the dose response and toxicity effects of a new drug candidate with higher predictive power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridu Malik
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Yang Yang
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Parinaz Fathi
- Department of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Gretchen J. Mahler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Mandy B. Esch
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
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28
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Tan ML, Ling L, Fischbach C. Engineering strategies to capture the biological and biophysical tumor microenvironment in vitro. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 176:113852. [PMID: 34197895 PMCID: PMC8440401 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of research and advancements in diagnostic and treatment modalities, cancer remains a major global healthcare challenge. This is due in part to a lack of model systems that allow investigating the mechanisms underlying tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance under relevant conditions in vitro. Tumor cell interactions with their surroundings influence all stages of tumorigenesis and are shaped by both biological and biophysical cues including cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, tissue architecture and mechanics, and mass transport. Engineered tumor models provide promising platforms to elucidate the individual and combined contributions of these cues to tumor malignancy under controlled and physiologically relevant conditions. This review will summarize current knowledge of the biological and biophysical microenvironmental cues that influence tumor development and progression, present examples of in vitro model systems that are presently used to study these interactions and highlight advancements in tumor engineering approaches to further improve these technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L Tan
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lu Ling
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Claudia Fischbach
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA; Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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29
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Frenkel N, Poghosyan S, Alarcón CR, García SB, Queiroz K, van den Bent L, Laoukili J, Rinkes IB, Vulto P, Kranenburg O, Hagendoorn J. Long-Lived Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells to Study Lymphatic Biology and Lymphatic Vessel/Tumor Coculture in a 3D Microfluidic Model. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:3030-3042. [PMID: 34185991 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The lymphatic system is essential in maintaining tissue fluid homeostasis as well as antigen and immune cell transport to lymph nodes. Moreover, lymphatic vasculature plays an important role in various pathological processes, such as cancer. Fundamental to this research field are representative in vitro models. Here we present a microfluidic lymphatic vessel model to study lymphangiogenesis and its interaction with colon cancer organoids using a newly developed lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) line. We generated immortalized human LECs by lentiviral transduction of human telomerase (hTERT) and BMI-1 expression cassettes into primary LECs. Immortalized LECs showed an increased growth potential, reduced senescence, and elongated lifespan with maintenance of typical LEC morphology and marker expression for over 12 months while remaining nontransformed. Immortalized LECs were introduced in a microfluidic chip, comprising a free-standing extracellular matrix, where they formed a perfusable vessel-like structure against the extracellular matrix. A gradient of lymphangiogenic factors over the extracellular matrix gel induced the formation of luminated sprouts. Adding mouse colon cancer organoids adjacent to the lymphatic vessel resulted in a stable long-lived coculture model in which cancer cell-induced lymphangiogenesis and cancer cell motility can be investigated. Thus, the development of a stable immortalized lymphatic endothelial cell line in a membrane-free, perfused microfluidic chip yields a highly standardized lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic vessel-tumor cell coculture assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Frenkel
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Susanna Poghosyan
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Carmen Rubio Alarcón
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Lotte van den Bent
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Jamila Laoukili
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Inne Borel Rinkes
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Vulto
- Mimetas BV, JH Oortweg 19, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Onno Kranenburg
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Hagendoorn
- UMC Utrecht Cancer Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands
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30
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Wasson EM, Dubbin K, Moya ML. Go with the flow: modeling unique biological flows in engineered in vitro platforms. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:2095-2120. [PMID: 34008661 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00014d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Interest in recapitulating in vivo phenomena in vitro using organ-on-a-chip technology has grown rapidly and with it, attention to the types of fluid flow experienced in the body has followed suit. These platforms offer distinct advantages over in vivo models with regards to human relevance, cost, and control of inputs (e.g., controlled manipulation of biomechanical cues from fluid perfusion). Given the critical role biophysical forces play in several tissues and organs, it is therefore imperative that engineered in vitro platforms capture the complex, unique flow profiles experienced in the body that are intimately tied with organ function. In this review, we outline the complex and unique flow regimes experienced by three different organ systems: blood vasculature, lymphatic vasculature, and the intestinal system. We highlight current state-of-the-art platforms that strive to replicate physiological flows within engineered tissues while introducing potential limitations in current approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa M Wasson
- Material Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave L-222, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
| | - Karen Dubbin
- Material Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave L-222, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
| | - Monica L Moya
- Material Engineering Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave L-222, Livermore, CA 94551, USA.
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31
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Rothbauer M, Bachmann BE, Eilenberger C, Kratz SR, Spitz S, Höll G, Ertl P. A Decade of Organs-on-a-Chip Emulating Human Physiology at the Microscale: A Critical Status Report on Progress in Toxicology and Pharmacology. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:470. [PMID: 33919242 PMCID: PMC8143089 DOI: 10.3390/mi12050470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip technology has the potential to accelerate pharmaceutical drug development, improve the clinical translation of basic research, and provide personalized intervention strategies. In the last decade, big pharma has engaged in many academic research cooperations to develop organ-on-a-chip systems for future drug discoveries. Although most organ-on-a-chip systems present proof-of-concept studies, miniaturized organ systems still need to demonstrate translational relevance and predictive power in clinical and pharmaceutical settings. This review explores whether microfluidic technology succeeded in paving the way for developing physiologically relevant human in vitro models for pharmacology and toxicology in biomedical research within the last decade. Individual organ-on-a-chip systems are discussed, focusing on relevant applications and highlighting their ability to tackle current challenges in pharmacological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Rothbauer
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
- Karl Chiari Lab for Orthopaedic Biology, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-22, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Barbara E.M. Bachmann
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt (AUVA) Research Centre, Donaueschingenstraße 13, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Eilenberger
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sebastian R.A. Kratz
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
- Drug Delivery and 3R-Models Group, Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences & Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology, Goethe University Frankfurt Am Main, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sarah Spitz
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gregor Höll
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Ertl
- Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Institute of Applied Synthetic Chemistry and Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/163-164, 1060 Vienna, Austria; (B.E.M.B.); (C.E.); (S.R.A.K.); (S.S.); (G.H.)
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
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32
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Bioengineered in vitro models of leukocyte-vascular interactions. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:693-704. [PMID: 33843967 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Leukocytes continuously circulate our body through the blood and lymphatic vessels. To survey invaders or abnormalities and defend our body against them, blood-circulating leukocytes migrate from the blood vessels into the interstitial tissue space (leukocyte extravasation) and exit the interstitial tissue space through draining lymphatic vessels (leukocyte intravasation). In the process of leukocyte trafficking, leukocytes recognize and respond to multiple biophysical and biochemical cues in these vascular microenvironments to determine adequate migration and adhesion pathways. As leukocyte trafficking is an essential part of the immune system and is involved in numerous immune diseases and related immunotherapies, researchers have attempted to identify the key biophysical and biochemical factors that might be responsible for leukocyte migration, adhesion, and trafficking. Although intravital live imaging of in vivo animal models has been remarkably advanced and utilized, bioengineered in vitro models that recapitulate complicated in vivo vascular structure and microenvironments are needed to better understand leukocyte trafficking since these in vitro models better allow for spatiotemporal analyses of leukocyte behaviors, decoupling of interdependent biological factors, better controlling of experimental parameters, reproducible experiments, and quantitative cellular analyses. This review discusses bioengineered in vitro model systems that are developed to study leukocyte interactions with complex microenvironments of blood and lymphatic vessels. This review focuses on the emerging concepts and methods in generating relevant biophysical and biochemical cues. Finally, the review concludes with expert perspectives on the future research directions for investigating leukocyte and vascular biology using the in vitro models.
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Fabricius HÅ, Starzonek S, Lange T. The Role of Platelet Cell Surface P-Selectin for the Direct Platelet-Tumor Cell Contact During Metastasis Formation in Human Tumors. Front Oncol 2021; 11:642761. [PMID: 33791226 PMCID: PMC8006306 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.642761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian platelets, devoid of nuclei, are the smallest cells in the blood stream. They are essential for hemostasis, but also transmit cell signals that are necessary for regenerative and generative processes such as inflammation, immunity and tissue repair. In particular, in malignancies they are also associated with cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Platelets promote metastasis and resistance to anti-tumor treatment. However, fundamental principles of the interaction between them and target cells within tumors are complex and still quite obscure. When injected into animals or circulating in the blood of cancer patients, cancer cells ligate platelets in a timely manner closely related to platelet activation either by direct contact or by cell-derived substances or microvesicles. In this context, a large number of different surface molecules and transduction mechanisms have been identified, although the results are sometimes species-specific and not always valid to humans. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the current knowledge on the role of the direct and indirect platelet-tumor interaction for single steps of the metastatic cascade and specifically focus on the functional role of P-selectin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Åke Fabricius
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Starzonek
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Lange
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Oddo A, Morozesk M, Lombi E, Schmidt TB, Tong Z, Voelcker NH. Risk assessment on-a-chip: a cell-based microfluidic device for immunotoxicity screening. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:682-691. [PMID: 36133829 PMCID: PMC9416880 DOI: 10.1039/d0na00857e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Nanomaterials are widely used in industrial and clinical settings due to their unique physical and chemical properties. However, public health and environmental concerns have emerged owing to their undesired toxicity and ability to trigger immune responses. This paper presents the development of a microfluidic-based cell biochip device that enables the administration of nanoparticles under laminar flow to cells of the immune system to assess their cytotoxicity. The exposure of human B lymphocytes to 10 nm silver nanoparticles under fluid flow led to a 3-fold increase in toxicity compared to static conditions, possibly indicating enhanced cell-nanoparticle interactions. To investigate whether the administration under flow was the main contributing factor, we compared and validated the cytotoxicity of the same nanoparticles in different platforms, including the conventional well plate format and in-house fabricated microfluidic devices under both static and dynamic flow conditions. Our results suggest that commonly employed static platforms might not be well-suited to perform toxicological screening of nanomaterials and may lead to an underestimation of cytotoxic responses. The simplicity of the developed flow system makes this setup a valuable tool to preliminary screen nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Oddo
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Clayton Victoria 3168 Australia
| | - Mariana Morozesk
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas Rod. Washington Luiz, Km 235, São Carlos 13565-905 São Paulo Brazil
| | - Enzo Lombi
- Future Industries Institute and UniSA STEM, University of South Australia Mawson Lakes 5095 South Australia Australia
| | - Tobias Benedikt Schmidt
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Reutlingen University Alteburgstraße 150 72762 Reutlingen Germany
| | - Ziqiu Tong
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Clayton Victoria 3168 Australia
| | - Nicolas Hans Voelcker
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University Parkville Victoria 3052 Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Clayton Victoria 3168 Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, Victorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility Clayton Victoria 3168 Australia
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, Monash University Clayton Victoria 3168 Australia
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35
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Mechanical strain induces phenotypic changes in breast cancer cells and promotes immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. J Transl Med 2020; 100:1503-1516. [PMID: 32572176 PMCID: PMC7686122 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-0452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BCa) proliferates within a complex, three-dimensional microenvironment amid heterogeneous biochemical and biophysical cues. Understanding how mechanical forces within the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulate BCa phenotype is of great interest. We demonstrate that mechanical strain enhanced the proliferation and migration of both estrogen receptor+ and triple-negative (TNBC) human and mouse BCa cells. Furthermore, a critical role for exosomes derived from cells subjected to mechanical strain in these pro-tumorigenic effects was identified. Exosome production by TNBC cells increased upon exposure to oscillatory strain (OS), which correlated with elevated cell proliferation. Using a syngeneic, orthotopic mouse model of TNBC, we identified that preconditioning BCa cells with OS significantly increased tumor growth and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and M2 macrophages in the TME. This pro-tumorigenic myeloid cell enrichment also correlated with a decrease in CD8+ T cells. An increase in PD-L1+ exosome release from BCa cells following OS supported additive T cell inhibitory functions in the TME. The role of exosomes in MDSC and M2 macrophage was confirmed in vivo by cytotracking fluorescent exosomes, derived from labeled 4T1.2 cells, preconditioned with OS. In addition, in vivo internalization and intratumoral localization of tumor-cell derived exosomes was observed within MDSCs, M2 macrophages, and CD45-negative cell populations following direct injection of fluorescently-labeled exosomes. Our data demonstrate that exposure to mechanical strain promotes invasive and pro-tumorigenic phenotypes in BCa cells, indicating that mechanical strain can impact the growth and proliferation of cancer cell, alter exosome production by BCa, and induce immunosuppression in the TME by dampening anti-tumor immunity.
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36
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Salminen AT, Allahyari Z, Gholizadeh S, McCloskey MC, Ajalik R, Cottle RN, Gaborski TR, McGrath JL. In vitro Studies of Transendothelial Migration for Biological and Drug Discovery. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:600616. [PMID: 35047883 PMCID: PMC8757899 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.600616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory diseases and cancer metastases lack concrete pharmaceuticals for their effective treatment despite great strides in advancing our understanding of disease progression. One feature of these disease pathogeneses that remains to be fully explored, both biologically and pharmaceutically, is the passage of cancer and immune cells from the blood to the underlying tissue in the process of extravasation. Regardless of migratory cell type, all steps in extravasation involve molecular interactions that serve as a rich landscape of targets for pharmaceutical inhibition or promotion. Transendothelial migration (TEM), or the migration of the cell through the vascular endothelium, is a particularly promising area of interest as it constitutes the final and most involved step in the extravasation cascade. While in vivo models of cancer metastasis and inflammatory diseases have contributed to our current understanding of TEM, the knowledge surrounding this phenomenon would be significantly lacking without the use of in vitro platforms. In addition to the ease of use, low cost, and high controllability, in vitro platforms permit the use of human cell lines to represent certain features of disease pathology better, as seen in the clinic. These benefits over traditional pre-clinical models for efficacy and toxicity testing are especially important in the modern pursuit of novel drug candidates. Here, we review the cellular and molecular events involved in leukocyte and cancer cell extravasation, with a keen focus on TEM, as discovered by seminal and progressive in vitro platforms. In vitro studies of TEM, specifically, showcase the great experimental progress at the lab bench and highlight the historical success of in vitro platforms for biological discovery. This success shows the potential for applying these platforms for pharmaceutical compound screening. In addition to immune and cancer cell TEM, we discuss the promise of hepatocyte transplantation, a process in which systemically delivered hepatocytes must transmigrate across the liver sinusoidal endothelium to successfully engraft and restore liver function. Lastly, we concisely summarize the evolving field of porous membranes for the study of TEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec T. Salminen
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Zahra Allahyari
- Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Shayan Gholizadeh
- Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Molly C. McCloskey
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Raquel Ajalik
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Renee N. Cottle
- Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Thomas R. Gaborski
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - James L. McGrath
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
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37
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Interstitial Hypertension Suppresses Escape of Human Breast Tumor Cells Via Convection of Interstitial Fluid. Cell Mol Bioeng 2020; 14:147-159. [PMID: 33868497 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-020-00661-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interstitial hypertension, a rise in interstitial fluid pressure, is a common feature of many solid tumors as they progress to an invasive state. It is currently unclear whether this elevated pressure alters the probability that tumor cells eventually escape into a neighboring blood or lymphatic vessel. Methods In this study, we analyze the escape of MDA-MB-231 human breast tumor cells from a ~3-mm-long preformed aggregate into a 120-μm-diameter empty cavity in a micromolded type I collagen gel. The "micro-tumors" were located within ~300 μm of one or two cavities. Pressures of ~0.65 cm H2O were applied only to the tumor ("interstitial hypertension") or to its adjacent cavity. Results This work shows that interstitial hypertension suppresses escape into the adjacent cavity, but not because tumor cells respond directly to the pressure profile. Instead, hypertension alters the chemical microenvironment at the tumor margin to one that hampers escape. Administration of tumor interstitial fluid phenocopies the effects of hypertension. Conclusions This work uncovers a link between tumor pressure, interstitial flow, and tumor cell escape in MDA-MB-231 cells, and suggests that interstitial hypertension serves to hinder further progression to metastatic escape. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12195-020-00661-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Hajal C, Ibrahim L, Serrano JC, Offeddu GS, Kamm RD. The effects of luminal and trans-endothelial fluid flows on the extravasation and tissue invasion of tumor cells in a 3D in vitro microvascular platform. Biomaterials 2020; 265:120470. [PMID: 33190735 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the process of metastatic dissemination, tumor cells are continuously subjected to mechanical forces resulting from complex fluid flows due to changes in pressures in their local microenvironments. While these forces have been associated with invasive phenotypes in 3D matrices, their role in key steps of the metastatic cascade, namely extravasation and subsequent interstitial migration, remains poorly understood. In this study, an in vitro model of the human microvasculature was employed to subject tumor cells to physiological luminal, trans-endothelial, and interstitial flows to evaluate their effects on those key steps of metastasis. Luminal flow promoted the extravasation potential of tumor cells, possibly as a result of their increased intravascular migration speed. Trans-endothelial flow increased the speed with which tumor cells transmigrated across the endothelium as well as their migration speed in the matrix following extravasation. In addition, tumor cells possessed a greater propensity to migrate in close proximity to the endothelium when subjected to physiological flows, which may promote the successful formation of metastatic foci. These results show important roles of fluid flow during extravasation and invasion, which could determine the local metastatic potential of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Hajal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Lina Ibrahim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jean Carlos Serrano
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Giovanni S Offeddu
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Roger D Kamm
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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Tien J, Ghani U, Dance YW, Seibel AJ, Karakan MÇ, Ekinci KL, Nelson CM. Matrix Pore Size Governs Escape of Human Breast Cancer Cells from a Microtumor to an Empty Cavity. iScience 2020; 23:101673. [PMID: 33163933 PMCID: PMC7599434 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
How the extracellular matrix (ECM) affects the progression of a localized tumor to invasion of the ECM and eventually to vascular dissemination remains unclear. Although many studies have examined the role of the ECM in early stages of tumor progression, few have considered the subsequent stages that culminate in intravasation. In the current study, we have developed a three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic culture system that captures the entire process of invasion from an engineered human micro-tumor of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through a type I collagen matrix and escape into a lymphatic-like cavity. By varying the physical properties of the collagen, we have found that MDA-MB-231 tumor cells invade and escape faster in lower-density ECM. These effects are mediated by the ECM pore size, rather than by the elastic modulus or interstitial flow speed. Our results underscore the importance of ECM structure in the vascular escape of human breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Tien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Corresponding author
| | - Usman Ghani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yoseph W. Dance
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alex J. Seibel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - M. Çağatay Karakan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Photonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kamil L. Ekinci
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Photonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Celeste M. Nelson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08554, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08554, USA
- Corresponding author
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Fathi P, Holland G, Pan D, Esch MB. Lymphatic Vessel on a Chip with Capability for Exposure to Cyclic Fluidic Flow. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:6697-6707. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Fathi
- Biomedical Technologies Group, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61801, United States
- Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Glenn Holland
- Photonics and Plasmonics Group, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61801, United States
- Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Mandy B. Esch
- Biomedical Technologies Group, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
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Luque‐González MA, Reis RL, Kundu SC, Caballero D. Human Microcirculation‐on‐Chip Models in Cancer Research: Key Integration of Lymphatic and Blood Vasculatures. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:e2000045. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202000045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Angélica Luque‐González
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Rui Luis Reis
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - Subhas Chandra Kundu
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
| | - David Caballero
- 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs—Research Institute on Biomaterials Biodegradables and BiomimeticsUniversity of MinhoHeadquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineICVS/3B’s—PT Government Associate Laboratory AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra 4805‐017 Barco Braga/Guimarães Portugal
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Liu T, Liu Q, Anaya I, Huang D, Kong W, Mille LS, Zhang YS. Investigating lymphangiogenesis in a sacrificially bioprinted volumetric model of breast tumor tissue. Methods 2020; 190:72-79. [PMID: 32278014 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2020.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic vessels, as a means to metastasize, are frequently recruited by tumor tissues during their progression. However, reliable in vitro models to dissect the intricate crosstalk between lymphatic vessels and tumors are still in urgent demand. Here, we describe a tissue-engineering method based on sacrificial bioprinting, to develop an enabling model of the human breast tumor with embedded multiscale lymphatic vessels, which is compatible with existing microscopy to examine the processes of lymphatic vessel sprouting and breast tumor cell migration in a physiologically relevant volumetric microenvironment. This platform will potentially help shed light on the complex biology of the tumor microenvironment, tumor lymphangiogenesis, lymphatic metastasis, as well as tumor anti-lymphangiogenic therapy in the future. We further anticipate wide adoption of the method to the production of various tissues and their models with incorporation of lymphatics vessels towards relevant applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Liu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Qiong Liu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Ingrid Anaya
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Di Huang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Weijia Kong
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Luis S Mille
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Yu Shrike Zhang
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States.
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Nath S, Pigula M, Khan AP, Hanna W, Ruhi MK, Dehkordy FM, Pushpavanam K, Rege K, Moore K, Tsujita Y, Conrad C, Inci F, del Carmen MG, Franco W, Celli JP, Demirci U, Hasan T, Huang HC, Rizvi I. Flow-induced Shear Stress Confers Resistance to Carboplatin in an Adherent Three-Dimensional Model for Ovarian Cancer: A Role for EGFR-Targeted Photoimmunotherapy Informed by Physical Stress. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9040924. [PMID: 32231055 PMCID: PMC7230263 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9040924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A key reason for the persistently grim statistics associated with metastatic ovarian cancer is resistance to conventional agents, including platinum-based chemotherapies. A major source of treatment failure is the high degree of genetic and molecular heterogeneity, which results from significant underlying genomic instability, as well as stromal and physical cues in the microenvironment. Ovarian cancer commonly disseminates via transcoelomic routes to distant sites, which is associated with the frequent production of malignant ascites, as well as the poorest prognosis. In addition to providing a cell and protein-rich environment for cancer growth and progression, ascitic fluid also confers physical stress on tumors. An understudied area in ovarian cancer research is the impact of fluid shear stress on treatment failure. Here, we investigate the effect of fluid shear stress on response to platinum-based chemotherapy and the modulation of molecular pathways associated with aggressive disease in a perfusion model for adherent 3D ovarian cancer nodules. Resistance to carboplatin is observed under flow with a concomitant increase in the expression and activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as well as downstream signaling members mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The uptake of platinum by the 3D ovarian cancer nodules was significantly higher in flow cultures compared to static cultures. A downregulation of phospho-focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK), vinculin, and phospho-paxillin was observed following carboplatin treatment in both flow and static cultures. Interestingly, low-dose anti-EGFR photoimmunotherapy (PIT), a targeted photochemical modality, was found to be equally effective in ovarian tumors grown under flow and static conditions. These findings highlight the need to further develop PIT-based combinations that target the EGFR, and sensitize ovarian cancers to chemotherapy in the context of flow-induced shear stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhankar Nath
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Michael Pigula
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Amjad P. Khan
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - William Hanna
- Department of Physics, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA; (W.H.); (J.P.C.)
| | - Mustafa Kemal Ruhi
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
| | - Farzaneh Mahmoodpoor Dehkordy
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Karthik Pushpavanam
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (K.P.); (K.R.)
| | - Kaushal Rege
- School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; (K.P.); (K.R.)
| | - Kaitlin Moore
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Yujiro Tsujita
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
- Department of Urology, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-8513, Japan
| | - Christina Conrad
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (C.C.); (H.-C.H.)
| | - Fatih Inci
- Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Department of Radiology School of Medicine Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (F.I.); (U.D.)
| | - Marcela G. del Carmen
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
| | - Walfre Franco
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Jonathan P. Celli
- Department of Physics, College of Science and Mathematics, University of Massachusetts at Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA; (W.H.); (J.P.C.)
| | - Utkan Demirci
- Bio-Acoustic MEMS in Medicine (BAMM) Laboratory, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Department of Radiology School of Medicine Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; (F.I.); (U.D.)
| | - Tayyaba Hasan
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Huang-Chiao Huang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; (C.C.); (H.-C.H.)
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Imran Rizvi
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.N.); (M.P.); (A.P.K.); (M.K.R.); (F.M.D.); (K.M.); (Y.T.); (W.F.); (T.H.)
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease that requires a multimodal approach to diagnose, manage and treat. A better understanding of the disease biology can lead to identification of novel diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and the discovery of the novel therapeutics with the goal of improving patient outcomes. Employing advanced technologies can facilitate this, enabling better diagnostic and treatment for cancer patients. In this regard, microfluidic technology has emerged as a promising tool in the studies of cancer, including single cancer cell analysis, modeling angiogenesis and metastasis, drug screening and liquid biopsy. Microfluidic technologies have opened new ways to study tumors in the preclinical and clinical settings. In this chapter, we highlight novel application of this technology in area of fundamental, translational and clinical cancer research.
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Lin Z, Luo G, Du W, Kong T, Liu C, Liu Z. Recent Advances in Microfluidic Platforms Applied in Cancer Metastasis: Circulating Tumor Cells' (CTCs) Isolation and Tumor-On-A-Chip. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e1903899. [PMID: 31747120 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201903899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide despite the enormous efforts that are made in the development of cancer biology and anticancer therapeutic treatment. Furthermore, recent studies in oncology have focused on the complex cancer metastatic process as metastatic disease contributes to more than 90% of tumor-related death. In the metastatic process, isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a vital role in diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients at an early stage. To obtain relevant information on cancer metastasis and progression from CTCs, reliable approaches are required for CTC detection and isolation. Additionally, experimental platforms mimicking the tumor microenvironment in vitro give a better understanding of the metastatic microenvironment and antimetastatic drugs' screening. With the advancement of microfabrication and rapid prototyping, microfluidic techniques are now increasingly being exploited to study cancer metastasis as they allow precise control of fluids in small volume and rapid sample processing at relatively low cost and with high sensitivity. Recent advancements in microfluidic platforms utilized in various methods for CTCs' isolation and tumor models recapitulating the metastatic microenvironment (tumor-on-a-chip) are comprehensively reviewed. Future perspectives on microfluidics for cancer metastasis are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjie Lin
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Guanyi Luo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Weixiang Du
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Tiantian Kong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Changkun Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
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Follain G, Herrmann D, Harlepp S, Hyenne V, Osmani N, Warren SC, Timpson P, Goetz JG. Fluids and their mechanics in tumour transit: shaping metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer 2020; 20:107-124. [PMID: 31780785 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-019-0221-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is a dynamic succession of events involving the dissemination of tumour cells to distant sites within the body, ultimately reducing the survival of patients with cancer. To colonize distant organs and, therefore, systemically disseminate within the organism, cancer cells and associated factors exploit several bodily fluid systems, which provide a natural transportation route. Indeed, the flow mechanics of the blood and lymphatic circulatory systems can be co-opted to improve the efficiency of cancer cell transit from the primary tumour, extravasation and metastatic seeding. Flow rates, vessel size and shear stress can all influence the survival of cancer cells in the circulation and control organotropic seeding patterns. Thus, in addition to using these fluids as a means to travel throughout the body, cancer cells exploit the underlying physical forces within these fluids to successfully seed distant metastases. In this Review, we describe how circulating tumour cells and tumour-associated factors leverage bodily fluids, their underlying forces and imposed stresses during metastasis. As the contribution of bodily fluids and their mechanics raises interesting questions about the biology of the metastatic cascade, an improved understanding of this process might provide a new avenue for targeting cancer cells in transit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautier Follain
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - David Herrmann
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sébastien Harlepp
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Vincent Hyenne
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- CNRS SNC 505, Strasbourg, France
| | - Naël Osmani
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - Sean C Warren
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Timpson
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- St. Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Jacky G Goetz
- INSERM UMR_S1109, Tumor Biomechanics, Strasbourg, France.
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
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Ayuso JM, Gong MM, Skala MC, Harari PM, Beebe DJ. Human Tumor-Lymphatic Microfluidic Model Reveals Differential Conditioning of Lymphatic Vessels by Breast Cancer Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1900925. [PMID: 31894641 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201900925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Breast tumor progression is a complex process involving intricate crosstalk between the primary tumor and its microenvironment. In the context of breast tumor-lymphatic interactions, it is unclear how breast cancer cells alter the gene expression of lymphatic endothelial cells and how these transcriptional changes potentiate lymphatic dysfunction. Thus, there is a need for in vitro lymphatic vessel models to study these interactions. In this work, a tumor-lymphatic microfluidic model is developed to study the differential conditioning of lymphatic vessels by estrogen receptor-positive (i.e., MCF7) and triple-negative (i.e., MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. The model consists of a lymphatic endothelial vessel cultured adjacently to either MCF7 or MDA-MB-231 cells. Quantitative transcriptional analysis reveals expression changes in genes related to vessel growth, permeability, metabolism, hypoxia, and apoptosis in lymphatic endothelial cells cocultured with breast cancer cells. Interestingly, these changes are different in the MCF7-lymphatic cocultures as compared to the 231-lymphatic cocultures. Importantly, these changes in gene expression correlate to functional responses, such as endothelial barrier dysfunction. These results collectively demonstrate the utility of this model for studying breast tumor-lymphatic crosstalk for multiple breast cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M. Ayuso
- Morgridge Institute for Research Madison WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Madison WI 53705 USA
| | - Max M. Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Madison WI 53705 USA
| | - Melissa C. Skala
- Morgridge Institute for Research Madison WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Madison WI 53705 USA
| | - Paul M. Harari
- Department of Human Oncology University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53792 USA
| | - David J. Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53706 USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Madison WI 53705 USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine University of Wisconsin Madison WI 53705 USA
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48
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Greenlee JD, King MR. Engineered fluidic systems to understand lymphatic cancer metastasis. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:011502. [PMID: 32002106 PMCID: PMC6986954 DOI: 10.1063/1.5133970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The majority of all cancers metastasize initially through the lymphatic system. Despite this, the mechanisms of lymphogenous metastasis remain poorly understood and understudied compared to hematogenous metastasis. Over the past few decades, microfluidic devices have been used to model pathophysiological processes and drug interactions in numerous contexts. These devices carry many advantages over traditional 2D in vitro systems, allowing for better replication of in vivo microenvironments. This review highlights prominent fluidic devices used to model the stages of cancer metastasis via the lymphatic system, specifically within lymphangiogenesis, vessel permeability, tumor cell chemotaxis, transendothelial migration, lymphatic circulation, and micrometastases within the lymph nodes. In addition, we present perspectives for the future roles that microfluidics might play within these settings and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Greenlee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA
| | - Michael R. King
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA
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49
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Ni BS, Tzao C, Huang JH. Plug-and-Play In Vitro Metastasis System toward Recapitulating the Metastatic Cascade. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18110. [PMID: 31792319 PMCID: PMC6889311 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54711-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic-based tumor models that mimic tumor culture environment have been developed to understand the cancer metastasis mechanism and discover effective antimetastatic drugs. These models successfully recapitulated key steps of metastatic cascades, yet still limited to few metastatic steps, operation difficulty, and small molecule absorption. In this study, we developed a metastasis system made of biocompatible and drug resistance plastics to recapitulate each metastasis stage in three-dimensional (3D) mono- and co-cultures formats, enabling the investigation of the metastatic responses of cancer cells (A549-GFP). The plug-and-play feature enhances the efficiency of the experimental setup and avoids initial culture failures. The results demonstrate that cancer cells tended to proliferate and migrate with circulating flow and intravasated across the porous membrane after a period of 3 d when they were treated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) or co-cultured with human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). The cells were also observed to detach and migrate into the circulating flow after a period of 20 d, indicating that they transformed into circulating tumor cells for the next metastasis stage. We envision this metastasis system can provide novel insights that would aid in fully understanding the entire mechanism of tumor invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Syuan Ni
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ching Tzao
- Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung, 43303, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Huang Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
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50
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Fetah KL, DiPardo BJ, Kongadzem EM, Tomlinson JS, Elzagheid A, Elmusrati M, Khademhosseini A, Ashammakhi N. Cancer Modeling-on-a-Chip with Future Artificial Intelligence Integration. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1901985. [PMID: 31724305 PMCID: PMC6929691 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201901985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, despite the large efforts to improve the understanding of cancer biology and development of treatments. The attempts to improve cancer treatment are limited by the complexity of the local milieu in which cancer cells exist. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a diverse population of tumor cells and stromal cells with immune constituents, microvasculature, extracellular matrix components, and gradients of oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors. The TME is not recapitulated in traditional models used in cancer investigation, limiting the translation of preliminary findings to clinical practice. Advances in 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and microfluidics have led to the development of "cancer-on-a-chip" platforms that expand the ability to model the TME in vitro and allow for high-throughput analysis. The advances in the development of cancer-on-a-chip platforms, implications for drug development, challenges to leveraging this technology for improved cancer treatment, and future integration with artificial intelligence for improved predictive drug screening models are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Lee Fetah
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Benjamin J DiPardo
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Eve-Mary Kongadzem
- School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, FI-65101, Vaasa, Finland
| | - James S Tomlinson
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Adam Elzagheid
- Biotechnology Research Center, Libyan Authority for Research, Science and Technology, Tripoli, Libya
| | - Mohammed Elmusrati
- School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, FI-65101, Vaasa, Finland
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Nureddin Ashammakhi
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, FI-65101, Vaasa, Finland
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Oulu University, FI-9001, Oulu, Finland
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