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Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Analysis of Cancer Cell Invasion and Anti-metastatic Drug Screening Using Hydrogel Micro-chamber Array HMCA-based Plates
Published on: October 25, 2018
Effect of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) on breast cancer cells within a tumor-stroma microfluidic model
N Peela1, E S Barrientos, D Truong
1School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE), Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA. mnikkhah@asu.edu.
Abstract:
Metastatic cancer is regarded as one of the largest contributors to disease-related deaths worldwide. Poor patient prognosis and treatment outcome is tied to the lack of efficacious anti-cancer therapies, which is due in part to the lack of physiologically relevant in vitro screening systems that can mimic the native tumor microenvironment. Conventional drug-screening platforms, which are often used in the pharmaceutical industry, are either two-dimensional (2D) assays or three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel-based matrices that lack precise control over cell distribution, matrix architecture, and organization. Despite the significance of in vivo models, they have limitations as it is difficult to control and analyze the influence of specific variables within their tumor microenvironment. Thus, there is still a crucial need to develop tumor models that enable precise control of microenvironmental cues (e.g. matrix composition, soluble factors, cellular organization) to assess the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs. Herein, we report the development and validation of a 3D microfluidic invasion platform for anti-cancer drug studies. Our platform allowed for compartmentalization of tumor and stromal fibroblasts in a defined architecture, thereby enabling pharmacokinetic drug transport to a cell-dense tumor region. We analyzed the effect of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, on the behavior of SUM159 breast cancer cells. Many HDAC inhibitors, including SAHA, have been a subject of controversy with highly conflicting results for the treatment of solid tumors in vitro as well as in clinical trials. We found that SAHA significantly inhibited cellular migration/proliferation, and decreased microtubule polarization.
Insights
A novel 3D microfluidic platform precisely controls the tumor microenvironment for advanced cancer drug screening. This system demonstrated that suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) inhibits breast cancer cell migration and proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Metastatic cancer causes significant global mortality, highlighting the need for effective therapies.
- Current in vitro models lack physiological relevance and precise control over the tumor microenvironment, limiting drug screening efficacy.
- Existing 2D and 3D hydrogel platforms struggle with controlled cell distribution and matrix architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a 3D microfluidic invasion platform for physiologically relevant anti-cancer drug studies.
- To enable precise control over microenvironmental cues, including matrix composition, soluble factors, and cellular organization.
- To assess the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs within a controlled tumor microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Development of a 3D microfluidic platform with compartmentalization for tumor and stromal fibroblasts.
- Implementation of defined architecture to mimic tumor microenvironment and enable controlled drug transport.
- Analysis of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) effects on SUM159 breast cancer cells.
Main Results:
- The 3D microfluidic platform successfully compartmentalized tumor and stromal cells in a defined architecture.
- Pharmacokinetic drug transport to dense tumor regions was enabled by the platform design.
- SAHA treatment significantly inhibited SUM159 breast cancer cell migration and proliferation.
- SAHA was observed to decrease microtubule polarization in breast cancer cells.
Conclusions:
- The developed 3D microfluidic platform offers precise control over the tumor microenvironment for anti-cancer drug evaluation.
- This platform provides a more physiologically relevant model compared to conventional 2D or hydrogel-based systems.
- SAHA demonstrates inhibitory effects on breast cancer cell behavior, warranting further investigation in controlled microenvironments.
