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A New “Tumor-on-a-Chip” Breakthrough Could Help Make Immunotherapy More Effective
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
A research team at the University of Pennsylvania has created a groundbreaking “tumor-on-a-chip”—a tiny, transparent device that mimics the complex environment of a human tumor. This innovation gives scientists an unprecedented real-time view of how cancer interacts with the immune system and why solid tumors are so difficult to treat.
While CAR T cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for blood cancers, solid tumors use a protective tumor microenvironment (TME) to block immune cells from getting inside. Using the new chip, Penn researchers discovered that vildagliptin, a drug used for type 2 diabetes, can strengthen the chemical signals that help CAR T cells enter tumors—allowing far more immune cells to break through and attack cancer. This platform also provides a safer, faster way to test new treatment strategies and could reduce reliance on animal models, speeding progress toward more effective immunotherapies.
Breakthroughs like this are possible because of sustained investment in cutting-edge cancer research. Philly Fights Cancer is proud to support the Abramson Cancer Center and the pioneering scientists whose work drives discoveries that bring new hope to patients and families. Click here to read the full article from Penn Today.
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A research team at the University of Pennsylvania has created a groundbreaking “tumor-on-a-chip”—a tiny, transparent device that mimics the complex environment of a human tumor. This innovation gives scientists an unprecedented real-time view of how cancer interacts with the immune system and why solid tumors are so difficult to treat.
While CAR T cell therapy has revolutionized treatment for blood cancers, solid tumors use a protective tumor microenvironment (TME) to block immune cells from getting inside. Using the new chip, Penn researchers discovered that vildagliptin, a drug used for type 2 diabetes, can strengthen the chemical signals that help CAR T cells enter tumors—allowing far more immune cells to break through and attack cancer. This platform also provides a safer, faster way to test new treatment strategies and could reduce reliance on animal models, speeding progress toward more effective immunotherapies.
Breakthroughs like this are possible because of sustained investment in cutting-edge cancer research. Philly Fights Cancer is proud to support the Abramson Cancer Center and the pioneering scientists whose work drives discoveries that bring new hope to patients and families. Click here to read the full article from Penn Today.