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Microfluidic platforms for the study of cancer metastasis

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Abstract

Metastases many a time leave cancer patients untreatable and are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Microfluidic platforms are arguably the most suitable for the study of cancer metastasis given its ability to mimic in vivo microenvironment of cancer tumor by manipulating its mechanical properties. This review discusses some applications of microfluidic platforms and their advantages for cancer biology and pathology. Studies of cancer metastasis conducted on its compositional steps enable us to elucidate elementary mechanisms through disease modeling. From that, communication and interaction of cancer cells, cellular metabolism related issues, and ultimately cancer drug discovery and delivery are manipulated on microfluidic platforms.

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Abbreviations

2D:

two-dimensional

3D:

three-dimensional

ECM:

Extracellular matrix

EGF:

Epidermal growth factor

HEC:

Human endothelial cell

hEGC:

Human embryonic germ cell

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-Gu, Anam-Dong, Seoul, 136-713, Korea

    JuanLin Ng, Yoojin Shin & Seok Chung

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  1. JuanLin Ng
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  2. Yoojin Shin
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  3. Seok Chung
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Correspondence to Seok Chung.

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Ng, J., Shin, Y. & Chung, S. Microfluidic platforms for the study of cancer metastasis. Biomed. Eng. Lett. 2, 72–77 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-012-0055-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-012-0055-x

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