Microfluidic model of the alternative vasculature in neuroblastoma

Abstract

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly vascularized pediatric tumor arising from undifferentiated neural crest cells early in life, exhibiting both traditional endothelial-cell-driven vasculature and an intriguing alternative vasculature. The alternative vasculature can arise from cancer cells undergoing transdifferentiation into tumor-derived endothelial cells (TEC), a trait associated with drug resistance and tumor relapse. The lack of effective treatments targeting NB vasculature primarily arises from the challenge of establishing predictive in vitro models that faithfully replicate the alternative vasculature phenomenon. In this study, we aim to recreate the intricate vascular system of NB in an in vitro context, encompassing both types of vascularization, by developing a novel neuroblastoma-on-a-chip model. We designed a collagen I/fibrin-based hydrogel closely mirroring NB’s physiological composition and tumor stiffness. This biomaterial created a supportive environment for the viability of NB and endothelial cells. Implementing a physiological shear stress value, aligned with the observed range in arteries and capillaries, within the microfluidic chip facilitated the successful development of vessel-like structures and triggered transdifferentiation of NB cells into TECs. The vascularized neuroblastoma-on-a-chip model introduced here presents a promising and complementary strategy to animal-based research with a significant capacity for delving into NB tumor biology and vascular targeting therapy.