Advances in 3D Vascularized Tumor-on-a-Chip Technology

Tumors disrupt the normal homeostasis of human body as they proliferate in abnormal speed. For constant proliferation, tumors recruit new blood vessels transporting nutrients and oxygen. Immune system simultaneously recruits lymphatic vessels to induce the death of tumor cells. Hence, understanding tumor dynamics are important to developing anti-cancer therapies. Tumor-on-a-chip technology can be applied to identify the structural and functional units of tumors and tumor microenvironments with high reproducibility and reliability, monitoring the development and pathophysiology of tumors, and predicting drug effectiveness. Herein, we explore the ability of tumor-on-a-chip technology to mimic angiogenic and lymphangiogenic tumor microenvironments of organs. Microfluidic systems allow elaborate manipulation of the development and status of cancer. Therefore, they can be used to validate the effects of various drug combinations, specify them, and assess the factors that influence cancer treatment. We discuss the mechanisms of action of several drugs for cancer treatment in terms of tumor growth and progression involving angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Moreover, we present future applications of emerging tumor-on-a-chip technology for drug development and cancer therapy.