Microfluidic technologies for anticancer drug studies

•3D cell systems show high resistance to cytotoxic treatment compared with 2D models.•Microfluidic systems allow cost-effective analysis of cytotoxic drugs.•Integration of multiple microfluidic systems can recreate physiological cell–cell interactions.•Microfluidic chips allow integration of chemical/biological sensors for real-time responses. The study of cancer growth mechanisms and the determination of the efficacy of experimental therapeutics are usually performed in two-dimensional (2D) cell culture models. However, these models are incapable of mimicking complex interactions between cancer cells and the environment. With the advent of microfluidic technologies, the combination of multiple cell cultures with mechanical and biochemical stimuli has enabled a better recapitulation of the three-dimensional (3D) tumor environment using minute amounts of reagents. These models can also be used to study drug transport, hypoxia, and interstitial pressure within the tumor. In this review, we highlight the applications of microfluidic-based models in anticancer drug studies and provide a perspective on the future of the clinical applications of microfluidic systems for anticancer drug development. Microfluidic technology offers an excellent alternative for current in vitro models. This review examines the impact of microfluidic systems on chemotherapeutic studies as a basis for diminishing the gap between in vivo and in vitro models.