The tumor microenvironment (TME) is multi-cellular, spatially heterogenous, and contains cell-generated gradients of soluble molecules. Current cell-based model systems lack this complexity or are difficult to interrogate microscopically. We present a 2D live-cell chamber that approximates the TME and demonstrate that breast cancer cells and macrophages generate hypoxic and nutrient gradients, self-organize, and have spatially varying phenotypes along the gradients, leading to new insights into tumorigenesis.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is multi-cellular, spatially heterogenous, and contains cell-generated gradients of soluble molecules. Current cell-based model systems lack this complexity or are difficult to interrogate microscopically. We present a 2D live-cell chamber that approximates the TME and demonstrate that breast cancer cells and macrophages generate hypoxic and nutrient gradients, self-organize, and have spatially varying phenotypes along the gradients, leading to new insights into tumorigenesis.