2024/07/15 by Ilva de Fátima Souza, João Paulo de Jesus Vieira, Elton Bonifácio +2 · 1 voice
Engineering · Medicine · #3D Printing in Biomedical Research #Cancer Cells and Metastasis #Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
paper · doi:10.1089/ten.teb.2024.0088
openalex publication_date 2024/07/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Solid tumors represent the most common type of cancer in humans and are classified into sarcomas, lymphomas, and carcinomas based on the originating cells. Among these, carcinomas, which arise from epithelial and glandular cells lining the body’s tissues, are the most prevalent. Around the world, a significant increase in the incidence of solid tumors is observed during recent years. In this context, efforts to discover more effective cancer treatments have led to a deeper understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its components. Currently, the interactions between cancer cells and elements of the TME are being intensely investigated. Remarkable progress in research is noted, largely owing to the development of advanced in vitro models, such as tumor-on-a-chip models that assist in understanding and ultimately discovering new effective treatments for a specific type of cancer. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the TME and cancer cell components, along with the advances on tumor-on-a-chip models designed to mimic tumors, offering a perspective on the current state of the art. Recent studies using this kind of microdevices that reproduce the TME have allowed a better understanding of the cancer and its treatments. Nevertheless, current applications of this technology present some limitations that must be overcome to achieve a broad application by researchers looking for a deeper knowledge of cancer and new strategies to improve current therapies.