Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41589350›Full record

ArticleLab on a chip2026

A 3D model to evaluate cell chemotaxis within a heterogenic tumor microenvironment.

Daniel B Rodrigues, Daniela Cruz-Moreira, Luca Gasperini, Mariana Jarnalo, Ricardo Horta, Rui L Reis, Rogério P Pirraco

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Lab on a chip, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Daniel B Rodrigues3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Ave 1, Edifício 1 (Sede), 4805-694, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. rpirraco@i3bs.uminho.pt.ORCID 0000-0002-0560-2962
Daniela Cruz-Moreira3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Ave 1, Edifício 1 (Sede), 4805-694, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. rpirraco@i3bs.uminho.pt.
Luca Gasperini3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Ave 1, Edifício 1 (Sede), 4805-694, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. rpirraco@i3bs.uminho.pt.
Mariana JarnaloDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal.
Ricardo HortaDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Burn Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal.
Rui L Reis3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Ave 1, Edifício 1 (Sede), 4805-694, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. rpirraco@i3bs.uminho.pt.
Rogério P Pirraco3B's Research Group, I3Bs - Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Rua Ave 1, Edifício 1 (Sede), 4805-694, Barco, Guimarães, Portugal. rpirraco@i3bs.uminho.pt.ORCID 0000-0001-5521-950X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

As studies continue to bring forward data on both the complexity and heterogeneity behind the tumor microenvironment, new strategies to understand and unravel the cellular interactions that regulate tumor progression and tumor cell invasion are required. Here, we present a novel and tailorable 4-well 3D culture chamber design capable of studying chemotaxis between several distinct cell types and a cancer cell population of interest. The use of a type I collagen hydrogel as the 3D substrate allowed for a differential molecule diffusion, in which rate of diffusion was associated with molecular weight. When culturing different human stromal cells (hASCs, hDMECs and hDFbs) in the outer wells while keeping VMM15 melanoma cells within the central well it was observed that hASCs and hDFbs presented directional migration throughout the collagen matrix towards the tumor cells. Further analysis revealed a higher area of migration present in the hDFbs when compared to the hASCs, supporting the potential of this system to study the recruitment of supporting cells by cancer cells and how this may impact tumor invasion.

Indexed as

Cell Culture Techniques, Three DimensionalChemotaxisTumor MicroenvironmentCell Line, TumorCell MovementCollagen Type IHumansHydrogelsMelanomaStromal CellsCollagen Type IHydrogels

Identifiers

PMID41589350
PMCPMC12836168

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.