Numerical simulation of avascular tumor growth

FERNÁNDEZ SLEZAK, DIEGO; SUAREZ, CECILIA; SOBA, ALEJANDRO; RISK, MARCELO; MARSHALL, GUILLERMO

Journal of Physics: Conference Series

IOP

Año: 2007 vol. 90 p. 12049 - 12054

1742-6596

<pre>A mathematical and numerical model for the description of different<br />aspects of microtumor development is presented. The model is based in<br />the solution of a system of partial differential equations describing<br />an avascular tumor growth. A detailed second-order numeric algorithm<br />for solving this system is described. Parameters are swiped to cover a<br />range of feasible physiological values. While previous published works<br />used a single set of parameters values, here we present a wide range<br />of feasible solutions for tumor growth, covering a more realistic<br />scenario. The model is validated by experimental data obtained with a<br />multicellular spheroid model, a specific type of in vitro biological<br />model which is at present considered to be optimum for the study of<br />complex aspects of avascular microtumor physiology. Moreover, a<br />dynamical analysis and local behaviour of the system is presented,<br />showing chaotic situations for particular sets of parameter values at<br />some fixed points. Further biological experiments related to those<br />specific points may give potentially interesting results.<br /></pre>