Modelling the metastatic cascade by in vitro microfluidic platforms

Prog Histochem Cytochem. 2015 Jan;49(4):21-9. doi: 10.1016/j.proghi.2015.01.001. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Abstract

The metastatic cascade comprises the following steps in sequential manner: the future metastatic cell has to leave the primary tumor mass, degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix, extravasate and circulate within in the bloodstream. Thereafter it has to attach to the endothelium of a target organ, intravasate into the connective tissue and has to proliferate to form a clinically detectable metastasis. We overview the in vitro microfluidic platforms modelling the metastatic cascade and the evolution towards systems capable of recapitulating all the steps by a single comprehensive model.

Keywords: Metastatic cascade; microfluidics; multi-organ chip; transendothelial migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Humans
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / methods*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity