We developed and validated the use of a cancer-on-chip system that is based on the integration of a continuous 3D-printed mini-stirred tank and a portable incubator. This system allows the creation of homogeneous and well-controlled environments for the culture of cancerous 3D microtissues. We fabricated cancerous microtissues by bioprinting recombinant MCF7 cancerous cells (producers of green fluorescent protein) surrounded by human fibroblasts to mimic the coexistence of segregated areas of malignant and healthy cells (sharing surface) in solid tumors. These microtissues were continuously fed with culture medium in the mini-stirred tank and exposed to Docitaxel (as a model drug) for different residence times (ranging from 4 to 36 hours) and doses. Sustained or single injection additions of Docitaxel were tested. We characterized the response of cancerous/healthy microtissues by using fluorescence microscopy combined with immunofluorescence techniques, and RT-PCR to measure changes in cell viability, morphology, and expression of relevant biomarkers.
Our findings suggest that this cancer-on-chip system properly recapitulates the responses of cancerous and normal tissues to insults related to the administration of different concentrations of an anti-cancer drug.