Using integrated cancer-on-chip platforms to emulate and probe various cancer models

Organ-on-chip platforms are engineered microfluidic systems that are capable of mimicking basic pathophysiological units of human organs. A number of organ-on-chip models have already been developed for emulating functional human healthy organs and their cancer counterparts, for example, lung (cancer), liver (cancer), brain (cancer), and breast (cancer). In the context of applications in cancer research, organ-on-chip systems are also referred to as cancer-on-a-chip (CoC). Recently, CoC has becoming an emerging in vitro model that can foster an innovative way of conducting cancer research and promote advances in cancer diagnostics and therapy. CoC systems are suitable models for cancerous tissues in both 2D and 3D microenvironments and can recapitulate pathophysiological phenomena, such as cancer cell extravasation, immune system responses, and also to provide a new platform for personalized medicine. Such systems can help us gain a deeper understanding of the cancer disease etiology and development, as well as, provide a high throughput screening tool to test and evaluate the safety and efficacy of new cancer therapies, including nanomedicines, ultimately aiding their clinical translation.