Microfluidic gradient generator for drug testing on a colorectal tumor-on-a-chip disease model

Statement of Purpose: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and its incidence increases with ageing. Understanding the mechanisms of tumour growth rely in further advances to unveil cancer-causing agents, drug screening and in the development of personalized therapies. Standard 2D in vitro models and in vivo animal models have undoubtedly contributed to the development of anti-cancer drug candidates. Yet their translation into successful clinical trials is critically low, which reinforces the need of a deeper understanding of tumorigenesis (1). Therefore, 3D models integrating tissue engineering (TE) strategies with microfluidic technology have sparked the expectation on physiologically relevant microfluidic in vitro models (2). The aim of this work is to establish a 3D microfluidic model that enables the reconstitution of physiological functions of microvascular tissue that emulates the human colorectal tumor microenvironment. This model will be established via a microfluidic device with an encapsulating hydrogel compartment comprising a co-culture system of HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells and human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells.