We designed a new way to build miniature fluidic devices to enable personalized cancer treatment

Researchers Sara Hassanpour Tamrin (left) and Arindom Sen (right) discuss the pattern of tiny channels used in their new method for making microfluidic devices. (Joe McFarland/University of Calgary) We designed a new way to build miniature fluidic devices to enable personalized cancer treatment Published: September 8, 2026 3.57pm EDT Share article Print article There is no “one-size-fits-all” treatment for patients living with cancer. Cancer occurs when normal cells in the body genetically mutate and transform into abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably. In most cases, these cancer cells form a solid mass of tissue called a tumour. The genetic changes that cause a tumour can influence its composition, so two people may have the same type of cancer but different types of tumours. A treatment may then work for one patient but not another. Tumour-on-a-chip technology enables us to recreate features of an individual patient’s tumour outside the body and test different treatments. The chips are biomedical devices small enough to fit into the palm of a hand. They contain tiny channels, called microfluidic systems, through which nutrient-rich fluids can flow to support tumour growth. The technology is promising but difficult and expensive to manufacture. We have developed a simple, cost-effective way to build chips containing microfluidic systems, with the goal of making the technology more accessible. We are also now exploring the use of this technology for childhood brain cancer. Miniature (microfluidic) devices created using our simplified fabrication method. (Joe McFarland/University of Calgary) Creating tumours outside the body Treatments that work well in the laboratory are not always effective in patients. One reason is that tumours recreated in laboratory dishes typically do not include the complex tumour environment found inside the body. In the body, tumour cells interact with cells and signals from their surroundings, which can alter how they behave and respond to a treatment. The ability to sample cancer cells from a patient and grow the tumour within a complex environment outside the body could help doctors safely and efficiently test a wide range of personalized treatment options for that patient. This would help avoid ineffective treatments and save time in finding the right approach. A tumour-on-a-chip recreates key features of a patient’s tumour in a miniature device. Figure created in part with BioRender.com. (Sara Hassanpour…