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Updated: Jun 28, 2025
A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Microfluidics-Based Technologies for the Assessment of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Amel Sassi1, Lidan You1,2,3
1Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.
Abstract:
Castration-resistant prostate cancer remains a significant clinical challenge, wherein patients display no response to existing hormone therapies. The standard of care often includes aggressive treatment options using chemotherapy, radiation therapy and various drugs to curb the growth of additional metastases. As such, there is a dire need for the development of innovative technologies for both its diagnosis and its management. Traditionally, scientific exploration of prostate cancer and its treatment options has been heavily reliant on animal models and two-dimensional (2D) in vitro technologies. However, both laboratory tools often fail to recapitulate the dynamic tumor microenvironment, which can lead to discrepancies in drug efficacy and side effects in a clinical setting. In light of the limitations of traditional animal models and 2D in vitro technologies, the emergence of microfluidics as a tool for prostate cancer research shows tremendous promise. Namely, microfluidics-based technologies have emerged as powerful tools for assessing prostate cancer cells, isolating circulating tumor cells, and examining their behaviour using tumor-on-a-chip models. As such, this review aims to highlight recent advancements in microfluidics-based technologies for the assessment of castration-resistant prostate cancer and its potential to advance current understanding and to improve therapeutic outcomes.
Insights
Castration-resistant prostate cancer poses a challenge due to treatment resistance. Microfluidics technology offers a promising new approach for studying this cancer and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Medical Engineering
Background:
- Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is a significant clinical challenge, often unresponsive to standard hormone therapies.
- Current treatment approaches for CRPC, including chemotherapy and radiation, have limitations.
- Traditional research models like animal models and 2D in vitro systems fail to fully replicate the tumor microenvironment, impacting drug efficacy studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in microfluidics-based technologies for CRPC research.
- To highlight the potential of microfluidics in improving the diagnosis and management of CRPC.
- To discuss how microfluidics can overcome limitations of traditional research models.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on microfluidics applications in prostate cancer research.
- Focus on microfluidics for assessing prostate cancer cells and isolating circulating tumor cells.
- Examination of tumor-on-a-chip models developed using microfluidics.
Main Results:
- Microfluidics technologies show promise in assessing prostate cancer cells.
- These technologies are effective in isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs).
- Tumor-on-a-chip models utilizing microfluidics provide a more dynamic tumor microenvironment for study.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidics offers innovative tools for CRPC research, overcoming limitations of traditional models.
- Advancements in microfluidics can lead to a better understanding of CRPC.
- This technology holds potential for improving therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes in CRPC.
