Published: 30 April 2025

Tumor-on-chip model for developing drugs against pancreatic cancer

The biotech company Dynamic42, in collaboration with Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, has developed a new tumor-on-chip model that paves the way for innovative drug development against pancreatic cancer. This innovative technology realistically replicates the tumor microenvironment, allowing for targeted drug testing without the use of animal experiments.

Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas (PDAC) is the most common form of pancreatic cancer. It is an aggressive type of cancer that can spread and metastasize quickly.

Why animal experiments fail

Animal research remains a widespread practice in cancer research. For instance, human pancreatic cancer cells are injected into immunodeficient mice to grow tumors. The issue: these tumors consist not only of human cancer cells but also of mouse tissue. Furthermore, the environment in which the tumor grows originates from the mouse, meaning the natural microenvironment of the tumor - crucial for its growth and treatment success - cannot be realistically replicated. In addition, these animal models lack a functional immune system, making it even harder to transfer findings to humans. This highlights the urgent need for methods based solely on human cells that authentically reflect the complex interactions between the tumor, its microenvironment, and the patient's immune system.

The tumor-on-chip model

The tumor-on-chip model, recently presented in the journal “Lab on a Chip”, is based on a microfluidic platform that contains tiny channels and chambers mimicking the environment of a real tumor. Various human cell types are integrated into the model. Pancreatic cancer cells and connective tissue cells form small tumor models in the shape of spheroids. Endothelial cells—which line blood vessels in the human body—separate the cancer spheroids from the simulated blood flow within the channels. Immune cells have also been integrated to analyze how the immune system reacts to the tumor.

First drug test successful

One major advantage of the tumor-on-chip model is that it enables realistic drug delivery through the artificial vascular system. In a feasibility study, an FDA approved drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer was tested. The results showed a significant reduction in tumor cell viability, demonstrating the chip’s potential for preclinical testing and the development of personalized cancer therapies.

Human tumor organoids are cultured in a microfluidic system. Reference: Dynamic42, press release, 6 March 2025

Immune cells on the chip

Immune cells derived from donor blood were also integrated into the model by being directed through the chip’s blood vessel–mimicking channels. On the chip, cancer and immune cells interact similarly to how they do in the human body. It was shown, for example, that immune cells migrate into the artificial tumor and differentiate into specialized cell types typical of pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

Pancreatic cancer research faces the challenge of accurately capturing the complexity of the human disease. Animal experiments are not a viable solution. The tumor-on-chip system, however, provides researchers with a state-of-the-art platform that will significantly advance the development of new therapies. By closely replicating the tumor microenvironment, it enables more precise predictions about the effectiveness of new drugs.

Dynamic42 is specialized in the development of human organ-on-chip models for pharmaceutical research and participated in our NATworks webinar, which offers companies a platform to promote animal-free methods.

Dr. rer. nat. Johanna Walter

 

 

References

• Dynamic42, Press release, 6 March 2025
• Deipenbrock A. et al. Modelling of the multicellular tumor microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) on a fit-for-purpose biochip for preclinical drug discovery., Lab on a Chip 2025; DOI: 10.1039/d4lc01016g
• Menschliche Tumor-Organoide werden in einem mikrofluidischen System kultiviert. Quelle: Dynamic42, Pressemitteilung vom 06.03.2025