Tumor Growth Modeling

Devising cancer treatment requires an extensive understanding of tumor biology, including how tumors form, grow, and disseminate; how they interact with their microenvironment and affect surrounding tissues; and what role vasculature and oxygen delivery play.   

At IT'IS we study these dynamical processes, and tumor growth in particular detail, using in silico models of tumors. These models rely on coupled partial differential equations of convection-diffusion-reaction, momentum transfer, or mechanics for instance, and the use of non-linear tissue models allow for mechanical stress (due to cell proliferation), blood flow in and around the malignancy, angiogenesis, thermal effects, impact of hypoxia on signaling, chemotaxis or chemokinesis to be captured. Additional realism is achieved with details such as various cell (e.g, active or quiescent tumor cells, endothelial cell) and tissue types, and the possibility to differentiate between signaling factors and drugs.  

By faithfully reproducing typical anatomical features (e.g., capsule with brush border and necrotic core, detailed shape of exophytic tumors) and behaviors (e.g. vasculature development in the presence or absence of drugs) and by allowing for high levels of flexibility and control, our models serve as useful tools for investigating and formulating hypotheses about tumorigenesis in general and the impact of individual factors in particular. Our models and simulation tools will become increasingly realistic and applicable as more biological and physiological information gets integrated.