title: Methods to study the tumor microenvironment under controlled oxygen conditions.
abstract: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex heterogeneous assembly composed of a variety of cell types and physical features. One such feature, hypoxia, is associated with metabolic reprogramming, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and therapeutic resistance. Many questions remain regarding the effects of hypoxia on these outcomes; however, only a few experimental methods enable both precise control over oxygen concentration and real-time imaging of cell behavior. Recent efforts with microfluidic platforms offer a promising solution to these limitations. In this review, we discuss conventional methods and tools used to control oxygen concentration for cell studies, and then highlight recent advances in microfluidic-based approaches for controlling oxygen in engineered platforms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: hgaskins@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: H Rex
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Gaskins
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Electronic address: kenis@illinois.edu.
authors.forename: Paul J A
authors.initials: PJA
authors.lastname: Kenis
mesh_terms: D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: hypoxia; microfluidics; tumor microenvironment