Tumor cells under flow: Developing a microfluidic platform to unravel physical and molecular factors driving survival in the vasculature

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Giorgio Cattaneo; Professorin Dr. Monilola Afolabi Olayioye
• Subject Area: Biomedical Systems Technology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 571057747

Metastasis is by far the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and thus the focus of intense research. Initial and final steps of metastasis have been studied in great detail, including how epithelial cells gain migratory and invasive properties and consequently move through tissues and vessel walls. By contrast, there is still limited knowledge on the crucial intermediate step between intra- and extravasation, namely on how cancer cells survive in the blood circulation - a prerequisite for metastasis formation. In this interdisciplinary project we will leverage our expertise in both biomedical engineering and cancer cell biology to develop a novel physiological platform for examining the behavioral patterns of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) under hemodynamic flow conditions. Our hydrogel-based model will integrate different vessel sizes, compliance and shear stress profiles, recapitulating key anatomical and biomechanical features of the human vasculature. Using this model, we will investigate how fluid shear stress, combined with heterotypic cell interactions and specific (epi)genetic alterations, affect cell fate in circulation. In-depth knowledge about the characteristics of tumor cells persisting in the bloodstream may ultimately provide valuable information toward the design of novel anti-cancer therapies.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants