In silico generation of tumor invasion patterns

E. LUJAN; L. GUERRA; A. SOBA; N. VISACOVSKY; J. CALVO; C. SUAREZ

Bahia Blanca

Conferencia; VI Argentinian Conference on Bioinformatics and Computational Biolog; 2015

Present mathematical models of microtumors consider, in general, volumetric growth and spherical tumor invasion shapes.Nevertheless, as a result of advanced treatment techniques that require precise target definition, a need for more accuratedelineation of tumor infiltration area has arisen. Here we present a continuum 2D mathematical model represented by areaction-convection-diffusion equation that considers logistic proliferation, volumetric growth, a rim with viable cells at thetumor surface and invasion with diffusive and convective components. The model has an initial benign proliferative stage thatturns to malign with the onset of tumor invasion. Descriptive simulations derived from the model are able to qualitatively andquantitatively reproduce the real invasion shape of individual multicellular tumor spheroids (in vitro model of an avascularmicrotumor) immersed in a collagen matrix. Predictive simulations, including tools of statistical data mining, can generatealeatory new possible invasion shapes of the same general pattern based on a temporal series analysis of an experimentaldataset. This kind of experimental-numerical interaction has wide application potential at the moment of designing newstrategies able to predict as much as possible the invasive behavior of a tumor in base on its particular characteristics