New approaches in cancer research
Tumour-on-chip model supports preclinical drug development on pancreatic cancer
The biotech company Dynamic42, a specialist in organ-on-chip technology, has made a significant advance in pancreatic cancer drug research in collaboration with the research team of Prof. Dr. Nicole Teusch at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. The development of a state-of-the-art ‘tumour-on-chip’ model has made it possible to faithfully reproduce the complex microenvironment of aggressive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This not only opens up broader possibilities for targeted preclinical drug development, but also for the development of personalised therapies against pancreatic cancer. The results of the study were published in the scientific journal ‘Lab on a Chip’.
The treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is made considerably more difficult due to its pronounced resistance to conventional therapies mainly caused by its complex tumour microenvironment. The tumour chip model from Dynamic42 realistically simulates the tumour microenvironment of PDAC. It precisely reproduces the complex interactions between tumour cells, immune cells and the extracellular matrix, thus creating a physiologically relevant test platform. The cancer and immune cells interact on the chip in a similar way to how they do in the human body. For example, it has been shown that immune cells migrate into the artificial tumour and develop into specialised cell types that are typical of pancreatic cancer.
Dynamic drug application and pioneering immunotherapies
These three-dimensional cell cultures, known as PDAC spheroids, consist of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and mimic the tumour structure more realistically than two-dimensional cell cultures. They are therefore used in cancer research to test the effect of drugs under the most physiological conditions possible. A decisive advantage of the tumour-on-chip model is the possibility of administering drugs dynamically via the vasculature. In the feasibility study, Vorinostat, a drug already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was tested for its effect on PDAC spheroids. The results laid a promising foundation for further drug testing: Vorinostat significantly reduced the viability of the 3D tumour model without affecting vascular integrity. This underlines the potential and high informative value of the tumour-on-chip model for further preclinical tests. The technology could make a decisive contribution to the development of more effective therapeutic approaches to pancreatic cancer – and thus significantly improve future patient survival prospects.
“This innovative model marks a turning point in preclinical cancer research. It enables us to precisely analyse the complex processes in the tumour microenvironment and accelerate new therapeutic approaches,” says Dr. Martin Raasch, CEO and co-founder of Dynamic42.
“The collaboration with Dynamic42 has given us the opportunity to develop a state-of-the-art system that can significantly advance pancreatic cancer research. We are confident that this model will make a significant contribution to the development of new therapies,” adds Prof. Dr. Nicole Teusch, Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology at Heinrich Heine University.
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