Breast Cancer Reconstruction: Design Criteria for a Humanized Microphysiological System

Authors

Trivia Frazier, Obatala Sciences, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Christopher Williams, Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Michael Henderson, Obatala Sciences, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Tamika Duplessis, Department of Physical Sciences, Delgado Community College, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Emma Rogers, Obatala Sciences, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Xiying Wu, Obatala Sciences, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Katie Hamel, Obatala Sciences, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Elizabeth C. Martin, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Omair Mohiuddin, Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, International Center for Chemical and Biological Science, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
Shahensha Shaik, Cell and Molecular Biology Core Laboratory, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Ram Devireddy, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Brian G. Rowan, Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Daniel J. Hayes, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.
Jeffrey M. Gimble, Obatala Sciences, Inc., New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2021

Abstract

International regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration have mandated that the scientific community develop humanized microphysiological systems (MPS) as an alternative to animal models in the near future. While the breast cancer research community has long appreciated the importance of three-dimensional growth dynamics in their experimental models, there are remaining obstacles preventing a full conversion to humanized MPS for drug discovery and pathophysiological studies. This perspective evaluates the current status of human tissue-derived cells and scaffolds as building blocks for an "idealized" breast cancer MPS based on bioengineering design principles. It considers the utility of adipose tissue as a potential source of endothelial, lymphohematopoietic, and stromal cells for the support of breast cancer epithelial cells. The relative merits of potential MPS scaffolds derived from adipose tissue, blood components, and synthetic biomaterials is evaluated relative to the current "gold standard" material, Matrigel, a murine chondrosarcoma-derived basement membrane-enriched hydrogel. The advantages and limitations of a humanized breast cancer MPS are discussed in the context of in-process and destructive read-out assays. Impact statement Regulatory authorities have highlighted microphysiological systems as an emerging tool in breast cancer research. This has been led by calls for more predictive human models and reduced animal experimentation. This perspective describes how human-derived cells, extracellular matrices, and hydrogels will provide the building blocks to create breast cancer models that accurately reflect diversity at multiple levels, that is, patient ethnicity, pathophysiology, and metabolic status.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Tissue engineering. Part A

First Page

479

Last Page

488

Recommended Citation

Frazier, T., Williams, C., Henderson, M., Duplessis, T., Rogers, E., Wu, X., Hamel, K., Martin, E. C., Mohiuddin, O., Shaik, S., Devireddy, R., Rowan, B. G., Hayes, D. J., & Gimble, J. M. (2021). Breast Cancer Reconstruction: Design Criteria for a Humanized Microphysiological System. Tissue engineering. Part A, 27 (7-8), 479-488. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEA.2020.0372