Abstract: A microfluidic system has a pipette system comprising a plurality of pipettes, a microfluidic chip arranged proximate the pipette system, an imaging optical detection system arranged proximate the microfluidic chip, and an image processing system in communication with the imaging optical detection system. The microfluidic chip has a plurality of cell culture chambers defined by a body of the microfluidic chip, each cell culture chamber being in fluid connection with an input channel and an output channel defined by the microfluidic chip. The pipette system is constructed and arranged to at least one of inject fluid through the plurality of pipettes into the plurality of input channels or extract fluid through the plurality of pipettes from the plurality of output channels while the microfluidic system is in operation.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides composition and methods for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of tumors and cancers, e.g., brain cancers. In one aspect, the invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting the growth, proliferation, differentiation and/or survival of a neural stem cell or a cancer cell, or progenitor stem cell thereof. In one aspect, the invention provides compositions and methods for identifying the genetic profile of a brain cancer cell or a self-renewing neural cancer stem cell. In one aspect, the invention provides methods employing these profiles to identify compounds that inhibit tumor growth.