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Biomimetic Model of Tumor Microenvironment on Microfluidic Platform
Author(s) -
Chung Minhwan,
Ahn Jungho,
Son Kyungmin,
Kim Sudong,
Jeon Noo Li
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201700196
Subject(s) - tumor microenvironment , stromal cell , paracrine signalling , angiogenesis , extracellular matrix , lymphangiogenesis , biology , stroma , cancer cell , microbiology and biotechnology , tumor cells , nanotechnology , cancer , chemistry , cancer research , materials science , immunology , metastasis , biochemistry , genetics , receptor , immunohistochemistry
The “Tumor microenvironment” (TME) is a complex, interacting system of the tumor and its surrounding environment. The TME has drawn more attention recently in attempts to overcome current drug resistance and the recurrence of cancer by understanding the cancer and its microenvironment systematically, beyond past reductionist approaches. However, a lack of experimental tools to dissect the intricate interactions has hampered in‐depth research into the TME. Here, a biomimetic TME model using a microfluidic platform is presented, which enables the interaction between TME constituents to be studied in a comprehensive manner. Paracrine interactions of cocultured tumor cell lines (SK‐OV‐3, MKN‐74, and SW620) with primary fibroblasts show marked morphological changes in the tumor cells, depending on the type of tumor cells, and, importantly, the composition of the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, this model allows direct observation of angiogenesis induced by the tumor–stroma interaction. Finally, reconstituting simultaneous angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis induced by the tumor‐stromal interaction with TME mimicking extrinsic factors is enabled. It is believed that the in vitro biomimetic model and the experimental concepts described will help to shed light on the complex biology of the TME.