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Updated: May 12, 2026
Microfluidic Co-Culture Models for Dissecting the Immune Response in in vitro Tumor Microenvironments
Published on: April 30, 2021
Microengineered tumor models: insights & opportunities from a physical sciences-oncology perspective
Peter DelNero1, Young Hye Song1, Claudia Fischbach2,3,4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
Abstract:
Prevailing evidence has established the fundamental role of microenvironmental conditions in tumorigenesis. However, the ability to identify, interrupt, and translate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms into meaningful therapies remains limited, due in part to a lack of organotypic culture systems that accurately recapitulate tumor physiology. Integration of tissue engineering with microfabrication technologies has the potential to address this challenge and mimic tumor heterogeneity with pathological fidelity. Specifically, this approach allows recapitulating global changes of tissue-level phenomena, while also controlling microscale variability of various conditions including spatiotemporal presentation of soluble signals, biochemical and physical characteristics of the extracellular matrix, and cellular composition. Such platforms have continued to elucidate the role of the microenvironment in cancer pathogenesis and significantly improve drug discovery and screening, particularly for therapies that target tumor-enabling stromal components. This review discusses some of the landmark efforts in the field of micro-tumor engineering with a particular emphasis on deregulated tissue organization and mass transport phenomena in the tumor microenvironment.
Insights
Advanced micro-tumor engineering platforms accurately mimic cancer's complex microenvironment. These tissue engineering and microfabrication systems improve understanding of tumor development and accelerate drug discovery for new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment significantly influences cancer development and progression.
- Current limitations in recapitulating tumor physiology hinder therapeutic development.
- Organotypic culture systems are needed to accurately model cancer pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in micro-tumor engineering for modeling cancer.
- To highlight the role of tissue engineering and microfabrication in creating realistic tumor models.
- To emphasize the impact on understanding tumor pathogenesis and drug discovery.
Main Methods:
- Integration of tissue engineering with microfabrication technologies.
- Development of platforms to control microenvironmental factors (e.g., soluble signals, extracellular matrix, cellular composition).
- Mimicking tumor heterogeneity and tissue-level phenomena with pathological fidelity.
Main Results:
- These engineered systems elucidate the role of the microenvironment in cancer.
- Platforms allow for precise control over spatiotemporal presentation of signals and matrix properties.
- Improved recapitulation of tumor physiology enhances drug discovery and screening.
Conclusions:
- Micro-tumor engineering offers a powerful approach to study cancer pathogenesis.
- These advanced models are crucial for developing targeted therapies, especially those affecting stromal components.
- Further development in this field promises to significantly impact cancer treatment strategies.
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