Traditional in vitro approaches play a foundational role in cancer research and drug discovery. However, over the last twenty years, increasing evidence has revealed critical limitations in their ability to identify therapeutic targets that translate effectively to patients. Many widely used in vitro cell lines were originally established in the mid-20th century and, through extensive passaging, have accumulated genetic and epigenetic alterations that significantly reduce their similarity to actual primary patient tumours. In addition, the behaviour of cancer-associated cells grown on two-dimensional surfaces, such as petri dishes and glass slides, often deviates significantly from actual patient response.

At the Laboratory of Advanced Tumor Systems (LATS), we aim to leverage advanced three-dimensional models, such as organotypic hydrogels and autologous immunocompetent tumor-on-chip (ToC) systems, combined with primary patient-derived cells to uncover novel, patient-relevant therapeutic mechanisms and targets.

Our research investigates how these advanced models can be used to uncover patient-relevant mechanisms of therapy response and resistance, especially in cell types that are difficult to study in traditional systems and that influence clinical outcomes. 

Our current work aims to use these novel microphysiological systems (MPS) models in order to look at the role that primary neutrophils play in patient immunotherapy response in non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) and to identify potential novel therapeutic targets in tumour-associated neutrophils.