Melanoma ranks as the 17th most common cancer globally, with over 324,000 new cases reported in 2020. Despite significant advancements in treatment through immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), many patients still face adaptive resistance, leading to poor outcomes. There is a pressing need for an in vitro human melanoma model that accurately replicates the tumor’s complex cellular and physical environments.

This scientific poster introduces the development of a melanoma-on-chip model featuring three key biological aspects under dynamic conditions: a reconstructed human melanoma-in-skin (Mel-RhS) to study melanoma cell invasion, an endothelium to simulate the vascular system, and the circulation and infiltration of immune cells.

We have successfully recreated these essential biological characteristics of melanoma in vitro, using standard multi-well plates under dynamic culture conditions. The future integration of these components into a single model aims to create a unique in vitro vascularized immunocompetent human melanoma-on-chip model. This model will facilitate the investigation and development of new therapies targeting adaptive resistance to ICIs.

This poster has been presented in several congresses and scientific events such as AACR 2021 in Orlando, USA.