Microphysiological Systems for Biomaterials Testing and Early Cancer Research

The global incidence of cancer is on a steady rise, with a projected annual diagnosis rate of nearly 30 million cases by 2040. Despite this alarming trend, our understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis and cancer invasion into vasculature and bone remains limited due to a dearth of in vitro and ex-vivo models that faithfully recapitulate the complexities of biological tissues while maintaining precise experimental control.

Furthermore, the arduous process of drug development, characterized by its complexity and high attrition rate, imposes substantial financial and temporal burdens in bringing new cancer therapies to market. To address these challenges, there is an imperative to develop preclinical platforms that not only meet the functional standards of traditional animal models but also surpass them, thereby enhancing our comprehension of diverse cancer types and expediting the pace of drug discovery.

This presentation aims to elucidate the utility of microphysiological systems featuring engineered vasculature and bone in systematically investigating cancer invasion into these critical tissues. Our findings include compelling evidence of the pivotal role played by perivascular cells in fostering a pro-tumoral microenvironment, as well as insights into the paracrine mechanisms through which bone cells induce epithelial mesenchymal transition in head and neck cancer. These discoveries hold promise for advancing cancer research and therapeutic development.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Discover Innovative Microphysiological Testing Platforms: Present novel perspectives on the development of functional and standardized microphysiological testing platforms that not only match but surpass the capabilities of preclinical animal models.

2. Evaluate Perivascular Cell Functionality: Examine the regulatory role of perivascular cells in modulating the responses of tumoral vasculature to extracellular mechanical changes, shedding light on their significance in the context of cancer progression.

3. Analyze Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer-Bone Interaction: Delve into the mechanisms underlying epithelial mesenchymal transition in head and neck cancer within the context of interactions with bone tissue, fostering a deeper understanding of this critical aspect of cancer biology.