The genetic and molecular variations that exist within Glioblastoma (GBM) determine treatment responses. One way to improve patient outcomes is to optimise treatment(s) pre-clinically by studying each tumour on an individual basis. Presented here are the results of a pilot study on the maintenance of human GBM tissue on a microfluidic platform. The device, fabricated using a photolithographic process, was composed of two layers of glass bonded together to contain a tissue chamber and a network of microchannels. A thin mesh layer was inserted to separate the tissue chamber from the microchannels and prevented blockage of the chip. Over an 18-month period, 33 patients were recruited, and 128 tissue sections were maintained in microfluidic devices for an average of 72 hours (h). Tissue viability as measured by Annexin V and Propidium Iodide staining showed that viability was 61.1 % in tissue maintained on chip after 72 h, compared with 68.9 % for fresh tissue analysed at the commencement of the experiment (P < 0.05). Other biomarkers, including Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) release and Trypan Blue assay, supported the viability of the tissue maintained on chip. Histological appearances of the tissue remained unchanged during the maintenance period and immunohistochemical analysis of Ki67 and Caspase 3 also showed no statistically significant differences. Analysis has shown a trend with tumours associated with poorer prognoses (e.g. recurrent tumours and IDH wildtype) displaying higher viability on chip compared to tumours linked with better outcomes (Grade 1–3 gliomas, IDH mutants and primary tumours). This work has demonstrated for the first time that human GBM tissue can be maintained ex vivo within a microfluidic device with viability comparable to fresh tissue samples. The model has the potential to be developed as a new platform for studying the biology of brain tumours, with the aim of facilitating personalised treatments.
