Modeling the Effect of Tissue Displacement during Avascular Tumor Growth on Tumor Progression

Authors

  • Karafyllidis Ioannis Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100 Kimmeria, Xanthi, Greece
  • Dimitra Sasaroli Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • Athanasios Karapetsas Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • Raphael Sandaltzopoulos Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece

Keywords:

cellular automata, tissue displacement, tumor growth, oxygen diffusion, glucose diffusion, avascular growth

Abstract

We have developed a model for tissue displacement caused by early tumor growth (i.e. before the onset of angiogenesis) using cellular automata and solving diffusion equations on the cellular automaton lattice in order to compute the distribution of oxygen and glucose into the tumor. Tumor growth causes mechanical forces that displace the already existing vessels away from it, thus affecting the distribution of oxygen and glucose which in turn influence tumor growth. We simulated this growth process and we found that tissue displacement may affect tumor progression rate. We also found that the relative distance of the tumor initiation area from neighboring vessels influences its growth. The model and the simulation software we developed can be used to understand the dynamics of early tumor growth and to explore various hypotheses of tumor growth relevant to drug delivery in chemotherapy. Importantly, our approach highlights that vessel displacement should not be neglected in tumor growth models.

 

Author Biography

  • Raphael Sandaltzopoulos, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, 68100, Alexandroupolis, Greece
    Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Assoc. Professor

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Published

2014-03-08

How to Cite

Modeling the Effect of Tissue Displacement during Avascular Tumor Growth on Tumor Progression. (2014). Asian Journal of Fuzzy and Applied Mathematics, 2(1). https://ajouronline.com/index.php/AJFAM/article/view/1013