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Updated: Jan 15, 2026
Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer
Published on: May 18, 2020
Microengineered Breast Cancer Models: Shaping the Future of Personalized Oncology
Tudor-Alexandru Popoiu1,2, Anca Maria Cimpean3,4,5,6, Florina Bojin7
1Department of Functional Sciences, Medical Informatics and Biostatistics Discipline, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Breast cancer-on-a-chip (BCOC) platforms use microfluidics to better model human tumors, improving cancer research and drug development. These advanced systems offer greater physiological relevance than traditional models.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Breast cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy with complex tumor microenvironments (TME) that traditional models fail to replicate.
- Breast cancer-on-a-chip (BCOC) systems integrate patient-derived cells and physiological stimuli in controlled 3D microenvironments.
- BCOC platforms offer a more accurate preclinical model for studying breast cancer biology and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development and applications of BCOC systems.
- To cover fabrication, modeling of breast cancer subtypes, tumor-stroma-immune crosstalk, and metastasis.
- To highlight BCOC's role in advancing precision oncology and reducing animal testing.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
- Keywords included: Breast Cancer, Microfluidic System, and Breast Cancer on a Chip.
- Critical analysis of selected papers on BCOC development and applications.
Main Results:
- Microfluidic systems accurately replicate disease progression features like EMT, vascular invasion, immune evasion, and therapy resistance.
- BCOC platforms integrate liquid biopsy technologies for real-time analysis of circulating tumor cells, cfNA, and exosomes.
- These systems demonstrate unprecedented physiological relevance in modeling breast cancer.
Conclusions:
- BCOC platforms represent a significant advancement in precision oncology, aligning with reduced animal testing initiatives.
- These microengineered systems bridge biological fidelity with engineering innovation for enhanced cancer research.
- BCOC holds immense potential for transforming cancer research, therapy screening, and personalized medicine.
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