Chapter 1: The Challenge of Studying Colon Cancer

Investigating colon cancer presents significant difficulties. The colon is a complex, dark, and squishy organ that is challenging to access in both humans and animals. While researchers have developed techniques to study it, they have primarily relied on Petri dishes or specially bred animals, neither of which provide an ideal solution. This prompted a team of researchers to seek a more effective method to analyze colon cancer, utilizing blue light, a common antibiotic, mouse colon cells, and an advanced organic microchip.

Understanding cancer requires studying changes at the cellular level, and to do this effectively, researchers need to grow and manipulate individual cells. Although Petri dishes allow for cell growth, they come with limitations. Cells in Petri dishes tend to be either flat or clumped together, lacking the structured organization found in the human body. This disorganization complicates research, akin to having a cluttered storage unit where finding specific items becomes a challenge. Efficient cancer research demands organized cells, which traditional Petri dishes fail to provide.

Animal models, typically genetically engineered rats, dogs, or pigs, offer better organization but come with their own set of issues. Accessing and observing these cells can be difficult, and the process often involves sacrificing the animals for examination. This approach is slow, costly, and raises ethical concerns, leading researchers to seek alternatives.

The ideal solution would be to create organized cells that can grow similarly to those in a Petri dish, and this is where the microchip technology shines.

Chapter 2: Introducing the Microchip Solution

In 2020, a pioneering study from Swiss researchers introduced a revolutionary method using tiny organic microchips that can cultivate well-organized human cells. These micro-organs, measuring just 1.5mm in length, are designed to mimic the shape and structure of human intestines. They feature the same folds and wiggles as real intestines, allowing the cells to grow in a structured manner and maintain homeostasis. These microchips can sustain cells for over a month, providing ample time for in-depth research.

Now that researchers can cultivate cells on these 1.5mm microchips, the potential for innovative experimentation has expanded. Scientists can easily manipulate these microchips while retaining the organizational benefits of animal models. A recent project by another team of Swiss researchers showcased the extraordinary capabilities of these microchips by inducing cancerous growth in mouse colon cells exposed to blue light and the antibiotic doxycycline.

Cancer typically progresses through distinct, observable stages. While monitoring these stages within a living colon is challenging, the microchip environment allows researchers to observe the cancer development in real-time. The researchers noted that the longevity and flexibility of these mini-colons offer an unparalleled setup for conducting tumorigenesis assays. They successfully created more realistic tumors that lasted longer than those produced by previous models, facilitating accelerated research.

While the initial findings did not yield groundbreaking discoveries, the primary goal was to determine whether these mini-colons could effectively grow and display cancerous cells under a microscope—an objective they accomplished, much to the delight of the scientific community.

Chapter 3: A New Era in Cancer Research?

Cancer research encompasses a wide array of studies, but this microchip technology has the potential to revolutionize the field. These microchips could replace many animal models, allowing for more ethical and efficient research practices. In 2020, nearly 800,000 mice were used for cancer research in the EU and Norway alone, as reported by the European Animal Research Association. Beyond the ethical implications, the resources required to maintain such a large population of test subjects are considerable.

If the micro-organs prove to be sustainable and effective, they could significantly alter the landscape of cancer research. While some animal models may still be necessary for pharmaceutical testing, the use of microchips could greatly reduce animal suffering, minimize costs, and expedite research processes—ultimately saving countless lives by facilitating the study of cancer cells on tiny chips.