Metastasis
Metastasis is a destructive oncological process that allows for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to enter the bloodstream and begin tumor growth in another area of the body. The mechanisms of metastasis are commonly studied, yet there are many intricacies of the process that remain misunderstood. To eliminate the possibility of extraneous variables, analyzing metastatic cancers in a controlled environment is necessary.
The BioFlux system mimics the physiological conditions of the vasculature, making it the ideal tool for oncological research. With the ability to control shear flowFluid movement that applies force to cells and biofilms; used to mimic physiological/pathological conditions., temperature, and pressure, the system can replicate how cancer cells behave during metastasis. The system can be used for several other oncological analyses, including cancer cell behavior during EMT and homing, screening different types of tumor cells for invasive phenotypes, screening compounds to inhibit or otherwise affect invasion and or angiogenesis, or to study chemotaxis of circulating cells in response to stimuli or inhibition.
Key BioFlux Advantages For Metastasis Studies
- Examine metastasized cell adhesion on endothelial monolayers and protein coatings.
- Easily wash away unbound tumor cells with shear flow
- Microfluidic design allows for each experiment to utilize as little as 100 µl of patient blood
- Utilize and discover novel compounds to combat cancer cell adherence, transmigration, and more.