Avendano Alex, Cortes-Medina Marcos, Song Jonathan W
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2019 Jan 23;7:6. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00006. eCollection 2019.
The physical remodeling associated with cancer progression results in barriers to mass transport in the tumor interstitial space. This hindrance ultimately affects the distribution of macromolecules that govern cell fate and potency of cancer therapies. Therefore, knowing how specific extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular components regulate transport in the tumor interstitium could lead to matrix normalizing strategies that improve patient outcome. Studies over the past decades have provided quantitative insights into interstitial transport in tumors by characterizing two governing parameters: (1) molecular diffusivity and (2) hydraulic conductivity. However, many of the conventional techniques used to measure these parameters are limited due to their inability to experimentally manipulate the physical and cellular environments of tumors. Here, we examine the application and future opportunities of microfluidic systems for identifying the physiochemical mediators of mass transport in the tumor ECM. Further advancement and adoption of microfluidic systems to quantify tumor transport parameters has potential to bridge basic science with translational research for advancing personalized medicine in oncology.
与癌症进展相关的物理重塑导致肿瘤间质空间中物质运输的障碍。这种阻碍最终会影响调控细胞命运和癌症治疗效果的大分子的分布。因此，了解特定的细胞外基质（ECM）和细胞成分如何调节肿瘤间质中的运输，可能会带来改善患者预后的基质正常化策略。过去几十年的研究通过表征两个控制参数，对肿瘤中的间质运输提供了定量的见解：（1）分子扩散率和（2）水力传导率。然而，许多用于测量这些参数的传统技术存在局限性，因为它们无法通过实验操纵肿瘤的物理和细胞环境。在这里，我们研究了微流控系统在识别肿瘤ECM中物质运输的物理化学介质方面的应用和未来机遇。进一步改进和采用微流控系统来量化肿瘤运输参数，有可能将基础科学与转化研究联系起来，以推动肿瘤学中的个性化医疗。
