Introduction of In Vitro Microvessel Model for Understanding Cellular Dynamics on Cancer Metastasis

Abstract

Understanding the interaction between blood vessel and cancer is important for developing new strategy of cancer treatment because it is estimated that metastasis is responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. However, there is a technical limitation in realizing cellular dynamics during metastasis using conventional 2D culture model or animals. Recently, sophisticated in vitro systems so called organ-on-a-chip mimicking microphysiological living systems have started to attract attention in this area. They allow mimicking 3D cancer microenvironment with control of physical and chemical parameters, and also visualizing cellular dynamics at a cellular level under the microscope, which are difficult in conventional animal experiments. In this article, we introduce recent microvessel models which can be used in cancer metastasis research.