3D Engineered Biomimetic Platform for Characterization of Collective Invasion, Tumor Emboli Formation, and Lymphatic...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Biology
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Collective tumor cell invasion and lymphatic dissemination are critical in cancer metastasis.
• Understanding the biomechanical features of the tumor-lymphatic microenvironment is essential for studying cancer spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a 3D biomimetic platform (T-LAB) simulating the tumor-lymphatic microenvironment.
• To investigate the biomechanical factors influencing collective tumor cell invasion and lymphatic dissemination.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mathematical and computational fluid dynamics modeling to analyze fluid flow and shear stress.
• Developed a 3D-printed macrofluidics platform (T-LAB) for co-culturing cancer cells and lymphatic endothelial cells.
• Assessed cell morphology, viability, migration, and invasion in the T-LAB model over 96 hours.

Main Results:

• The T-LAB platform successfully simulated the fluidic properties of the tumor lymphatic microenvironment.
• Co-culture within the T-LAB demonstrated tumor cell cluster/emboli formation and collective invasion.
• Observed features in the T-LAB model closely resembled clinicopathological findings in cancer patients.

Conclusions:

• The 3D T-LAB platform provides a novel tool for studying the tumor-lymphatic interface.
• This model can be used to investigate topographical impacts on collective invasion and lymphatic spread.
• The T-LAB facilitates research into the mechanisms of cancer metastasis across diverse tumor types.