The Application of Microfluidic Chips in Primary Urological Cancer: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Abstract

The research of primary urological cancers, including bladder cancer (BCa), prostate cancer (PCa), and renal cancer (RCa), has developed rapidly. Microfluidic technology provides a good variety of benefits compared to the heterogeneity of animal models and potential ethical issues of human study. Microfluidic technology and its application with cell culture (e.g., organ-on-a-chip, OOC) are extensively used in urological cancer studies in preclinical and clinical settings. The application has provided diagnostic and therapeutic benefits for patients with urological diseases, especially by evaluating biomarkers for urinary malignancies. In this review, we go through the applications of OOC in BCa, Pca and Rca, and discuss the prospects of reducing the cost and improving the repeatability and amicability of the intelligent integration of urinary system organ chips.

Keywords

in vitro model / microfluidic technology / organ-on-a-chip / urological cancer

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