A Tissue Engineering Approach to Metastatic Colon Cancer
Samaneh Kamali Sarvestani,
Reece K. DeHaan,
Paula G. Miller,
Shree Bose,
Xiling Shen,
Michael L. Shuler,
Emina H. Huang
Affiliations
Samaneh Kamali Sarvestani
Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
Reece K. DeHaan
Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
Paula G. Miller
Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
Shree Bose
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Xiling Shen
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Michael L. Shuler
Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
Emina H. Huang
Department of Cancer Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: Colon cancer remains the third most common cause of cancer in the US, and the third most common cause of cancer death. Worldwide, colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer and cancer deaths. At least 25% of patients still present with metastatic disease, and at least 25-30% will develop metastatic colon cancer in the course of their disease. While chemotherapy and surgery remain the mainstay of treatment, understanding the fundamental cellular niche and mechanical properties that result in metastases would facilitate both prevention and cure. Advances in biomaterials, novel 3D primary human cells, modelling using microfluidics and the ability to alter the physical environment, now offers a unique opportunity to develop and test impactful treatment.
