Microfluidic Platform for Investigating the Kinetics of Extracellular Vesicle Induced Metastatic Niche Formation

Cancers of different origins prefer to seed secondary tumours (metastasise) in specific organs. For example pancreatic cancer mostly likely metastasises to the liver, while breast cancer to the bone. It is believed that tumours prepare these distant organs for colonisation by secreting potent messengers called extracellular vesicles (EVs) into the bloodstream. However, we have a poor understanding of how and how rapidly EVs distribute to various organs, invade into the bulk of these organs and then reprogram them into tumour-friendly environments. The goal of this project is to develop miniaturised microfluidic (micron-scale fluid handling) devices that mimic vasculature and organs. These devices will then be used to continuously track the progress of EVs in these environments and their influence on how cancer cells behave.