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The Tumor Microenvironment

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Quantifying the Brain Metastatic Tumor Micro-Environment using an Organ-On-A Chip 3D Model, Machine Learning, and Confocal Tomography

Quantifying the Brain Metastatic Tumor Micro-Environment using an Organ-On-A Chip 3D Model, Machine Learning, and Confocal Tomography

Published on: August 16, 2020

Tumor Microenvironment on a Chip: The Progress and Future Perspective.

Jungho Ahn^1,2, Yoshitaka J Sei^3,4, Noo Li Jeon⁵

¹George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. ahnjungho0513@gmail.com.

Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)

|September 28, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Engineered tumor microenvironment systems offer advanced tools for studying cancer progression and metastasis. These biomimetic platforms are crucial for understanding tumor behavior and developing new anticancer drugs.

Keywords:

drug screening in vitro disease models microfluidics nanomedicine organ-on-a-chip tumor microenvironment

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Last Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Quantifying the Brain Metastatic Tumor Micro-Environment using an Organ-On-A Chip 3D Model, Machine Learning, and Confocal Tomography

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Published on: August 16, 2020

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Microfluidic Device for Recreating a Tumor Microenvironment in Vitro

Microfluidic Device for Recreating a Tumor Microenvironment in Vitro

Published on: November 20, 2011

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cancer Biology
Drug Discovery

Background:

Tumor microenvironments are essential for cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis.
The tumor microenvironment influences malignancy and drug resistance, presenting a key therapeutic target.
Understanding these complex environments is critical for effective cancer treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in engineered tumor microenvironment systems.
To highlight their application in mechanistic examination of cancer progression and metastasis.
To discuss their potential for anticancer drug prescreening.

Main Methods:

Utilizing microengineered physiological systems to mimic tumor microenvironments.
Employing these systems for quantitative and reproducible characterization of tumor responses.
Reviewing literature on biomimetic approaches for cancer research.

Main Results:

Engineered systems provide pathophysiological relevance for studying tumor behavior.
These platforms enable unprecedented mechanistic insights into cancer progression.
Advancements facilitate detailed examination of invasion and metastasis processes.

Conclusions:

Engineered tumor microenvironment systems are powerful tools for cancer research.
These biomimetic approaches show significant promise for prescreening anticancer drugs.
Future perspectives involve further development and application in personalized medicine.