ASTEROIDS Platform: A New Era for Cancer Research and Treatment Prediction

A new micro-physiological system, ASTEROIDS (Apparatus to Simulate Tumor Environment and Reproduce Organs in an Interactive and Dynamic System), has been developed to improve cancer research laboratory tests. This system mimics human physiology, potentially leading to more accurate predictions of human patient responses to treatments.

Key Development

An international scientific team, led by HonorHealth Research Institute and the University of Arizona, developed the ASTEROIDS platform. The findings, which included a simulated radiation treatment for lung cancer, were published in the scientific journal iScience.

Dr. Frederic Zenhausern, senior author and a senior scientist at HonorHealth Research Institute, emphasized the system's purpose:

"The technology aims for greater precision and accuracy in understanding tumor microenvironment interactions and guiding treatment."

ASTEROIDS Capabilities

The ASTEROIDS system integrates advanced features to closely mimic living organisms:

• Integrates three-dimensional cell culture with organ-on-chip technology.
• Reproduces tumor microenvironment (TME)-level organization and responses.
• Supports long-term cell viability and tissue barrier integrity.
• Enables cell-to-cell communication and tumor-immune crosstalk.
• Provides a human-relevant platform for therapy testing, applicable to any solid tumor.
• Acts in a spatial organization closely mimicking a living organism.

Regulatory Alignment and Commercialization

The ASTEROIDS technology aligns with new FDA policies under the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. This act promotes reducing animal testing in favor of human-relevant methods such as organ-on-chip and organoid testing.

The technology is currently under joint product development with Japan's Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc. for future commercialization. This collaboration aims to significantly improve the translation of pre-clinical model results to human clinical outcomes.

Collaboration and Support

The multi-institutional collaboration was spearheaded by Dr. Zenhausern and University of Arizona Assistant Professor Dr. Jerome Lacombe.

Contributors to the research included scientists from the University of Geneva, Georgetown University, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company.

Support for the study was provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), St. Joseph's Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, Valley Research Partnership Program, and the HonorHealth Research Institute Rare Cancer Initiative.