Mechanical cues in tumor microenvironment on chip

Abstract

Mechanical cues from the tumor microenvironment (TME) can influence cell behaviors and have been indicated to play a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. The integration of microfluidics technologies, bioelectronics, and tissue engineering approaches have allowed the development of various in-vitro TME on-chip models. These models recapitulate and systematically simplify the intricate mechanical characteristics and interactions within tumors, enabling the study of the metastatic process with unprecedented detail. In this review, we will focus on shear flow, confinement, and stiffness and elucidate their mechanotransduction processes that contribute to the onset of metastatic cascade. Finally, novel Cancer-on-chip models are discussed along with an outlook on challenges and future perspectives of this emerging technology.

Keywords

• Tumor microenvironment
• Cancer metastasis
• Mechanical cues
• Secreted molecules
• Cancer-on-chip