Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration

The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises a diverse array of cells, both cancerous and non-cancerous, including stromal cells and immune cells. Complex interactions among these cells play a central role in driving cancer progression, impacting critical aspects such as tumor initiation, growth, inva...

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Main Authors: Daniela Gaebler, Stephanie J. Hachey, Christopher C. W. Hughes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1462293/full
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author Daniela Gaebler
Stephanie J. Hachey
Christopher C. W. Hughes
Christopher C. W. Hughes
author_facet Daniela Gaebler
Stephanie J. Hachey
Christopher C. W. Hughes
Christopher C. W. Hughes
author_sort Daniela Gaebler
collection DOAJ
description The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises a diverse array of cells, both cancerous and non-cancerous, including stromal cells and immune cells. Complex interactions among these cells play a central role in driving cancer progression, impacting critical aspects such as tumor initiation, growth, invasion, response to therapy, and the development of drug resistance. While targeting the TME has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy, there is a critical need for innovative approaches that accurately replicate its complex cellular and non-cellular interactions; the goal being to develop targeted, personalized therapies that can effectively elicit anti-cancer responses in patients. Microfluidic systems present notable advantages over conventional in vitro 2D co-culture models and in vivo animal models, as they more accurately mimic crucial features of the TME and enable precise, controlled examination of the dynamic interactions among multiple human cell types at any time point. Combining these models with next-generation technologies, such as bioprinting, single cell sequencing and real-time biosensing, is a crucial next step in the advancement of microfluidic models. This review aims to emphasize the importance of this integrated approach to further our understanding of the TME by showcasing current microfluidic model systems that integrate next-generation technologies to dissect cellular intra-tumoral interactions across different tumor types. Carefully unraveling the complexity of the TME by leveraging next generation technologies will be pivotal for developing targeted therapies that can effectively enhance robust anti-tumoral responses in patients and address the limitations of current treatment modalities.
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spelling doaj-art-b8df03292d2b4b84bbc9f5afd01a76712025-08-20T01:54:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852024-09-011210.3389/fbioe.2024.14622931462293Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integrationDaniela Gaebler0Stephanie J. Hachey1Christopher C. W. Hughes2Christopher C. W. Hughes3Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United StatesMolecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United StatesMolecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United StatesBiomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United StatesThe tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises a diverse array of cells, both cancerous and non-cancerous, including stromal cells and immune cells. Complex interactions among these cells play a central role in driving cancer progression, impacting critical aspects such as tumor initiation, growth, invasion, response to therapy, and the development of drug resistance. While targeting the TME has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy, there is a critical need for innovative approaches that accurately replicate its complex cellular and non-cellular interactions; the goal being to develop targeted, personalized therapies that can effectively elicit anti-cancer responses in patients. Microfluidic systems present notable advantages over conventional in vitro 2D co-culture models and in vivo animal models, as they more accurately mimic crucial features of the TME and enable precise, controlled examination of the dynamic interactions among multiple human cell types at any time point. Combining these models with next-generation technologies, such as bioprinting, single cell sequencing and real-time biosensing, is a crucial next step in the advancement of microfluidic models. This review aims to emphasize the importance of this integrated approach to further our understanding of the TME by showcasing current microfluidic model systems that integrate next-generation technologies to dissect cellular intra-tumoral interactions across different tumor types. Carefully unraveling the complexity of the TME by leveraging next generation technologies will be pivotal for developing targeted therapies that can effectively enhance robust anti-tumoral responses in patients and address the limitations of current treatment modalities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1462293/fullcancer immunologytumor microenvironmentnext-generation technologytumor-on-chipbioengineeringbiosensors
spellingShingle Daniela Gaebler
Stephanie J. Hachey
Christopher C. W. Hughes
Christopher C. W. Hughes
Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
cancer immunology
tumor microenvironment
next-generation technology
tumor-on-chip
bioengineering
biosensors
title Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration
title_full Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration
title_fullStr Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration
title_full_unstemmed Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration
title_short Improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next-generation technology integration
title_sort improving tumor microenvironment assessment in chip systems through next generation technology integration
topic cancer immunology
tumor microenvironment
next-generation technology
tumor-on-chip
bioengineering
biosensors
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1462293/full
work_keys_str_mv AT danielagaebler improvingtumormicroenvironmentassessmentinchipsystemsthroughnextgenerationtechnologyintegration
AT stephaniejhachey improvingtumormicroenvironmentassessmentinchipsystemsthroughnextgenerationtechnologyintegration
AT christophercwhughes improvingtumormicroenvironmentassessmentinchipsystemsthroughnextgenerationtechnologyintegration
AT christophercwhughes improvingtumormicroenvironmentassessmentinchipsystemsthroughnextgenerationtechnologyintegration