Evaluation of Cancer Stem Cell Migration Using Compartmentalizing Microfluidic Devices and Live Cell Imaging

JoVE 3297 12/23/2011

Yu Huang*^1,2, Basheal Agrawal*³, Paul A. Clark³, Justin C. Williams^1,2,3, John S. Kuo^3,4

¹Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, ²Materials Science Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, ³Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, ⁴Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison

A compartmentalizing microfluidic device for investigating cancer stem cell migration is described. This novel platform creates a viable cellular microenvironment and enables microscopic visualization of live cell locomotion. Highly motile cancer cells are isolated to study molecular mechanisms of aggressive infiltration, potentially leading to more effective future therapies.