Biomimetic Tissue Engineered Systems for Advancing Cancer Research

Executive Summary

Building on great progress at the convergence of physical sciences and oncology, workshop participants envision the development of new research areas centered on harnessing biomimetic systems used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine to advance cancer research.

Recapitulation of tumors and their context in vitro has been a challenge for cancer researchers. Notable advances have been made in cancer biology with 3D culture systems using biomimetic and natural biomaterials, microfluidic devices, and co-cultures. However, further technological developments must be achieved in order to create dynamic in vitro model systems that include multiple cellular, chemical, and physical parameters, all of which are important players in cancer biology.

The field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has made advances in developing in vitro and ex vivo model systems to recreate tissues and their microenvironment.

This workshop assessed the next steps for developing tissue engineered systems for cancer research and to determine what type of infrastructure or funding support may be required to advance current technologies

Agenda

7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.	Security and Registration
8:00 a.m. - 8:05 a.m.	Welcome and Opening Remarks Dinah Singer, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute
8:05 a.m. - 8:15 a.m.	Introduction and Goals of Workshop Nastaran Kuhn, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute
8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.	Keynote Presentation: From Cancer Biomechanics to Human Organ-on-Chip Disease Models Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. Wyss Institute, Harvard University
8:45 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.	Session I: Vascularized Tissue Engineered Systems for Cancer Research Scribe: Xin Yi Chan, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University 8:45 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. Introduction by Session Moderator Sharon Gerecht, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University 8:50 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Vascularizing Engineered Tumor Tissue in Vitro Steven George, MD., Ph.D. University of California, Irvine 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Engineering Realistic Microvessel Tumor Systems for Studying Metastasis Christopher Chen, M.D., Ph.D. Boston University 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. Bioengineering of Tissue Models for Cancer and Metastasis Research Shay Soker, Ph.D. Wake Forest School of Medicine 9:50 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. Panel Questions and Discussion Panel: Donald Ingber, Steven George, Christopher Chen, Shay Soker Moderated by Sharon Gerecht
10:25 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.	Break
10:40 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Session II: Biomimetic Systems to Probe the Cancer Physical Microenvironment Scribe: Ioannis Zervantonakis, Ph.D., Harvard University
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.	Lunch
12:35 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.	Poster Viewing in Terrace Room TE406 David Beebe, Ph.D., Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research Microscale in vitro Models Enable Cancer Research and Translation Jennifer Elisseeff, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University The Independent Roles of Mechanical, Structural and Adhesion Characteristics of 3D Hydrogels on the Regulation of Cancer Invasion and Dissemination Cynthia Reinhart-King, Ph.D., Cornell University Tissue-Engineered Models of Follow-the-Leader Metastatic Migration Laura Suggs, Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin Dynamically Tunable Gels to Probe the Influence of Stiffness on Tumor Progression Min Kim, M.D., Weill Cornell Medical College, Houston Methodist Tumor Cells in the Circulating Media of the 4D Model Mimics the Circulating Tumor Cell Biology Lance Munn, Ph.D., Harvard University Biomimetic Microsystems for Neovascularization and Cell Sorting Shannon Mumenthaler, Ph.D., University of Southern California A Bioengineered Liver Tissue platform for studying cancer Metastasis Meenakshi Upreti, Ph.D. , University of Kentucky The Tumor Microenvironment and 3-D Tumor Models: Implications in Biology and Therapy
1:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.	Keynote Presentation: Integrating Systems Biology and Tissue Engineering for Models of Cancer Dormancy and Drug Efficacy Linda Griffith, Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.	Session III: Correlation of Molecular Phenotypes and Tissue Function with Biomimetic Systems Scribe: Aranzazu Villasante, Ph.D., Columbia University 1:45 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Introduction by Session Moderator Michael Shuler, Ph.D. Cornell University 1:50 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. Tumor Engineering: Lessons from Regenerative Medicine Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Ph.D. Columbia University 2:10 p.m. -2:30 p.m. Drug Sensitivity of Ewing Sarcoma Cells in 3D Biomimetic Substrates Joseph Ludwig, M.D. MD Anderson Cancer Center 2:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. Screening of Novel CRC Loci from Genome-scale Cancer Surveys in a Primary Colon Organoid System Calvin Kuo, M.D., Ph.D. Stanford University 2:50 p.m. - 3:10 p.m. Identifying Molecular Markers of Breast Epithelial Dissemination using Engineered Microenvironment Systems Andrew Ewald, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University 3:10 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Panel Questions and Discussion Session Panel: Linda Griffith, Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Joseph Ludwig, Calvin Kuo, Andrew Ewald Moderated by Michael Shuler
3:45 p.m. - 4:05 p.m.	Break
4:05 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.	Breakout Discussions Moderator: Larry Nagahara, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute Scribes: Joyce Chen, Cornell University Kyungmin Ji, Wayne State University Kyung Min Park, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Alireza Roshan Ghias, Ph.D., Columbia University Teresa Schuessler, M.S., National Cancer Institute Pallavi Sethi, Ph.D., University of Kentucky Archana Thakur, Ph.D., Wayne State University Xi Tian, Ph.D., University of North Carolina Identify 3 outstanding cancer research questions that can be addressed with biomimetic tissue engineered systems Identify 1 or more technological advancements needed to advance the field Identify the "ideal team" for applying tissue engineering tools to cancer research
4:45 p.m. - 5:25 p.m.	Breakout Summaries Moderator: Larry Nagahara, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute
5:25 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Closing Remarks Nastaran Kuhn, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute

Workshop Report

Summary in Cancer Research: Biomimetic Tissue–Engineered Systems for Advancing Cancer Research: NCI Strategic Workshop Report