Microphysiological model of renal cell carcinoma to inform anti-angiogenic therapy.

Renal cell carcinomas are common genitourinary tumors characterized by high vascularization and strong reliance on glycolysis. Despite the many available therapies for renal cell carcinomas, first-line targeted therapies, such as cabozantinib, and durable reaponses are seen in only a small percentage of patients. Yet, little is known about the mechanisms that drive response (or lack thereof). This dearth of knowledge can be explained by the dynamic and complex microenvironment of renal carcinoma, which remains challenging to recapitulate in vitro. Here, we present a microphysiological model of renal cell carcinoma, including a tubular blood vessel model of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells and an adjacent 3D carcinoma model. Our model recapitulated hypoxia, glycolic metabolism, and sprouting angiogenesis. Using our model, we showed that cabozantinib altered cancer cell metabolism and decreased sprouting angiogenesis but did not restore barrier function. This microphysiological model could be helpful to elucidate, through multiple endpoints, the contributions of the relevant environmental components in eliciting a functional response or resistance to therapy in renal cell carcinoma.

Microfluidic model with air-walls reveals fibroblasts and keratinocytes modulate melanoma cell phenotype, migration, and metabolism.

Melanoma evolution is a complex process. The role epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts play in this process and the mechanisms involved in tumor-stroma interactions remain poorly understood. Here, we used a microfluidic platform to evaluate the cross-talk between human primary melanoma cells, keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. The microfluidic device included multiple circular chambers separated by a series of narrow connection channels. The microdevice design allowed us to develop a new cell patterning method based on air-walls, removing the need for hydrogel barriers, porous membranes, or external equipment. Using this method, we co-cultured melanoma cells in the presence of keratinocytes and/or dermal fibroblasts. The results demonstrated that the presence of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes led to changes in melanoma cell morphology and growth pattern. Molecular analysis revealed changes in the chemokine secretion pattern, identifying multiple secreted factors involved in tumor progression. Finally, optical metabolic imaging showed that melanoma cells, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes exhibited different metabolic features. Additionally, the presence of stromal cells led to a metabolic shift in melanoma cells, highlighting the role the skin microenvironment on melanoma evolution.