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Gaebler D, Hachey SJ, Hughes CCW. Microphysiological systems as models for immunologically 'cold' tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1389012. [PMID: 38711620 PMCID: PMC11070549 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1389012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a diverse milieu of cells including cancerous and non-cancerous cells such as fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial cells and immune cells. The intricate cellular interactions within the TME hold a central role in shaping the dynamics of cancer progression, influencing pivotal aspects such as tumor initiation, growth, invasion, response to therapeutic interventions, and the emergence of drug resistance. In immunologically 'cold' tumors, the TME is marked by a scarcity of infiltrating immune cells, limited antigen presentation in the absence of potent immune-stimulating signals, and an abundance of immunosuppressive factors. While strategies targeting the TME as a therapeutic avenue in 'cold' tumors have emerged, there is a pressing need for novel approaches that faithfully replicate the complex cellular and non-cellular interactions in order to develop targeted therapies that can effectively stimulate immune responses and improve therapeutic outcomes in patients. Microfluidic devices offer distinct advantages over traditional in vitro 3D co-culture models and in vivo animal models, as they better recapitulate key characteristics of the TME and allow for precise, controlled insights into the dynamic interplay between various immune, stromal and cancerous cell types at any timepoint. This review aims to underscore the pivotal role of microfluidic systems in advancing our understanding of the TME and presents current microfluidic model systems that aim to dissect tumor-stromal, tumor-immune and immune-stromal cellular interactions in various 'cold' tumors. Understanding the intricacies of the TME in 'cold' tumors is crucial for devising effective targeted therapies to reinvigorate immune responses and overcome the challenges of current immunotherapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Gaebler
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Stephanie J. Hachey
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Christopher C. W. Hughes
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Westerhof TM, Yang BA, Merill NM, Yates JA, Altemus M, Russell L, Miller AJ, Bao L, Wu Z, Ulintz PJ, Aguilar CA, Morikawa A, Castro MG, Merajver SD, Oliver CR. Blood-brain barrier remodeling in an organ-on-a-chip device shows Dkk1 to be a regulator of early metastasis. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2023; 3:2200036. [PMID: 37234365 PMCID: PMC10208594 DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202200036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain metastases are the most lethal progression event, in part because the biological processes underpinning brain metastases are poorly understood. There is a paucity of realistic models of metastasis, as current in vivo murine models are slow to manifest metastasis. We set out to delineate metabolic and secretory modulators of brain metastases by utilizing two models consisting of in vitro microfluidic devices: 1) a blood brain niche (BBN) chip that recapitulates the blood-brain-barrier and niche; and 2) a migration chip that assesses cell migration. We report secretory cues provided by the brain niche that attract metastatic cancer cells to colonize the brain niche region. Astrocytic Dkk-1 is increased in response to brain-seeking breast cancer cells and stimulates cancer cell migration. Brain-metastatic cancer cells under Dkk-1 stimulation increase gene expression of FGF-13 and PLCB1. Further, extracellular Dkk-1 modulates cancer cell migration upon entering the brain niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha M Westerhof
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Benjamin A Yang
- School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nathan M Merill
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Joel A Yates
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Megan Altemus
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Liam Russell
- School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anna J Miller
- School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Liwei Bao
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhifen Wu
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Peter J Ulintz
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Carlos A Aguilar
- School of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Aki Morikawa
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maria G Castro
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sofia D Merajver
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Christopher R Oliver
- Michigan Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Peng B, Hao S, Tong Z, Bai H, Pan S, Lim KL, Li L, Voelcker NH, Huang W. Blood-brain barrier (BBB)-on-a-chip: a promising breakthrough in brain disease research. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:3579-3602. [PMID: 36004771 DOI: 10.1039/d2lc00305h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a key challenge in developing brain-penetrating therapeutic molecules. BBB dysfunction is also associated with the onset and progression of various brain diseases. The BBB-on-a-chip (μBBB), an organ-on-chip technology, has emerged as a powerful in vitro platform that closely mimics the human BBB microenvironments. While the μBBB technology has seen wide application in the study of brain cancer, its utility in other brain disease models ("μBBB+") is less appreciated. Based on the advances of the μBBB technology and the evolution of in vitro models for brain diseases over the last decade, we propose the concept of a "μBBB+" system and summarize its major promising applications in pathological studies, personalized medical research, drug development, and multi-organ-on-chip approaches. We believe that such a sophisticated "μBBB+" system is a highly tunable and promising in vitro platform for further advancement of the understanding of brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Shiping Hao
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
| | - Ziqiu Tong
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Hua Bai
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
| | - Sijun Pan
- The Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE, Future Technologies), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Kah-Leong Lim
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 11 Mandalay Road, 308232, Singapore
| | - Lin Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), Nanjing 211800, China
- The Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE, Future Technologies), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China
| | - Nicolas H Voelcker
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Wei Huang
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible Electronics, Xi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical Materials & Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China.
- Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), Nanjing 211800, China
- The Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE, Future Technologies), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China
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Rehman AU, Khan P, Maurya SK, Siddiqui JA, Santamaria-Barria JA, Batra SK, Nasser MW. Liquid biopsies to occult brain metastasis. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:113. [PMID: 35538484 PMCID: PMC9088117 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain metastasis (BrM) is a major problem associated with cancer-related mortality, and currently, no specific biomarkers are available in clinical settings for early detection. Liquid biopsy is widely accepted as a non-invasive method for diagnosing cancer and other diseases. We have reviewed the evidence that shows how the molecular alterations are involved in BrM, majorly from breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC), and melanoma, with an inception in how they can be employed for biomarker development. We discussed genetic and epigenetic changes that influence cancer cells to breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and help to establish metastatic lesions in the uniquely distinct brain microenvironment. Keeping abreast with the recent breakthroughs in the context of various biomolecules detections and identifications, the circulating tumor cells (CTC), cell-free nucleotides, non-coding RNAs, secretory proteins, and metabolites can be pursued in human body fluids such as blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine to obtain potential candidates for biomarker development. The liquid biopsy-based biomarkers can overlay with current imaging techniques to amplify the signal viable for improving the early detection and treatments of occult BrM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asad Ur Rehman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Parvez Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Shailendra Kumar Maurya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | - Jawed A Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA
| | | | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE-68198, USA
| | - Mohd Wasim Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA. .,Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68108, USA.
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Hwang SH, Lee S, Park JY, Jeon JS, Cho YJ, Kim S. Potential of Drug Efficacy Evaluation in Lung and Kidney Cancer Models Using Organ-on-a-Chip Technology. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:215. [PMID: 33669950 PMCID: PMC7924856 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) is an exponential technology with the potential to revolutionize disease, toxicology research, and drug discovery. Recent advances in OoC could be utilized for drug screening in disease models to evaluate the efficacy of new therapies and support new tools for the understanding of disease mechanisms. Rigorous validation of this technology is required to determine whether OoC models may represent human-relevant physiology and predict clinical outcomes in target disease models. Achievements in the OoC field could reveal exciting new avenues for drug development and discovery. This review attempts to highlight the benefits of OoC as per our understanding of the cellular and molecular pathways in lung and kidney cancer models, and discusses the challenges in evaluating drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Hye Hwang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea; (S.-H.H.); (Y.-J.C.)
| | - Sangchul Lee
- Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Jee Yoon Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | | | - Young-Jae Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea; (S.-H.H.); (Y.-J.C.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Sejoong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea; (S.-H.H.); (Y.-J.C.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
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