Development of tumor-on-a-chip models

Cancer ranks among the top ten causes of death worldwide and is the second leading cause of death in Germany after cardiovascular disease. Although melanomas account for only about 5% of all skin cancers, they are responsible for more than 75% of all skin cancer deaths. The major challenge in identifying effective therapies lies in inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity, as well as the development of resistance mechanisms against the therapeutic agents used. Against this backdrop in particular, the development of innovative methods for the rapid and individualized assessment of new therapeutic agents is of great importance. To improve and investigate therapeutic approaches for the treatment of tumors, the project aims to establish an immunocompetent 3D skin model for malignant melanoma. This model will be integrated into a microfluidic on-chip application and analyzed online using optical methods.