Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for detecting migration of effector cells towards a target cell, and cytotoxicity of the migrated effector cells against the target cells. The effector cells are modified to express a homing or migratory receptor, and the target cells are modified to express the cognate ligand. The methods can be carried out in a Boyden chamber or tranwells with a porous membrane between the wells. The membrane can be coated with an extracellular matrix component to simulate a solid tumor environment.