About the project

Overview of the BioOnChip Project

BioOnChip (Development of a bronchoscopic biopsies-on-chip platform for immunotherapy drug screening in non-small cell lung cancer) aims to develop and validate an innovative “bronchoBOCs” platform that allows direct, personalized evaluation of immunotherapy response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Scientific Background & Rationale

• Non-small cell lung cancer represents 85% of lung cancer cases and is increasingly treated with immunotherapy (anti-PD-1/PD-L1), but only 20–30% of patients show long-term response.
• There is a critical need for reliable, predictive in vitro models that replicate the tumor microenvironment and allow drug testing on patient biopsies within hours or days.
• The widespread variability of PD-L1 expression and other biomarkers among patients makes a platform for accurate, personalized approaches (precision medicine) essential.

Objectives & Deliverables

1. Construction & Integration of Tumor-on-Chip: Design of microfluidic chips that mimic the tumor and immune microenvironment.
2. Collection & Processing of Bronchoscopic Biopsies: Development of protocols for safe collection, cell separation, and loading onto the platform.
3. Predictive Anti-PD-1 Testing: Assessment of cellular response (viability, cytokine secretion, apoptosis signals) to immunotherapy agents.
4. Clinical Validation: Systematic comparison with patient data in a prospective clinical study of 50+ participants.
5. Application of Artificial Intelligence: Development of machine learning algorithms to model and predict treatment outcomes based on “omic” data.

Methodology & Innovation

The heart of BioOnChip is a microfluidic chip that contains:

• 3D tumor cultures (typical tumor-on-chip size), incorporating endothelial and immune cells.
• Separated flow channels for delivery of immunotherapeutic molecules under controlled shear stresses.
• Real-time imaging system (fluorescence, phase contrast microscopy) for monitoring dynamic cell behavior.

Each test evaluates: (a) live/dead cells using stains, (b) cytokine and chemokine secretion (ELISA), (c) protein profile mapping (mass spectrometry proteomics).

Experimental Design & Clinical Study

• Prospective Co-Clinical Study: Recruitment of patients with advanced NSCLC, biopsy collection, immediate loading, and testing before anti-PD1 treatment initiation.
• Data Collection: Clinical parameters (age, genetic profile, PD-L1 levels), molecular data from tissue, and 12-month survival monitoring.
• AI Analysis: Use of supervised learning to link in vitro biomarkers with actual clinical responses.

Broader Significance & Expected Impact

BioOnChip aligns with global trends in personalized oncology, providing:

• Tools for rapid clinical prediction of therapeutic response.
• Reduction in clinical trial costs by early detection of drug failure.
• Creation of knowledge and expansion of expertise in biotechnology and microfluidics in Greece.

Keywords

Tumor-on-Chip · Bronchoscopic Biopsies · Precision Medicine · Proteomics · Artificial Intelligence · Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer · Immunotherapy · Clinical Validation