Figure 5.

Selected microfluidic platforms for studying breast cancer organotropism, which is the organ-specific extravasation of CTCs involving: (i) the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines into circulation by the primary tumor, (ii) the upregulation of endothelial adhesion molecules at secondary sites induced by the cytokines, (iii) CTCs adhering to and migrating through endothelial cells and proliferating. Breast CTCs have been found to primarily extravasate into the bone, liver, lungs, and brain, where they form secondary tumors that may be fatal.