Microfluidic Biopsy Trapping Device for the Real-Time Monitoring of Tumor Microenvironment

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• The tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly influences tumor progression and therapeutic response.
• Conventional 2D cell culture models fail to replicate TME complexity, limiting drug development.
• Existing microfluidic platforms often lack true TME components and interstitial flow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a preclinical platform that accurately recapitulates the TME for drug efficacy assessment.
• To evaluate drug responses in intact tumor tissue within its native microenvironment.
• To enable personalized medicine by predicting individual patient response to cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

• A continuous perfusion microfluidic device was designed for analyzing intact fresh tumor tissue.
• The device incorporates microscopy and image analysis for real-time monitoring.
• Patient-derived xenograft lung adenocarcinoma fine needle aspirate biopsies were used for proof-of-principle studies.

Main Results:

• The microfluidic device successfully assessed ex vivo drug treatment response in intact tumor biopsies.
• Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, was used to demonstrate tumor cell death.
• The platform showed potential for evaluating drug effects within the native tumor microenvironment.

Conclusions:

• This microfluidic approach offers a more accurate method for studying tumor response to drugs.
• It has the potential to improve the selection of effective cancer treatments for individual patients.
• The technology promises cost-effective and timely personalized therapeutic strategies.