Mathematical modelling of cancer invasion : phenotypic transitioning provides insight into multifocal foci formation
Abstract
The transition from the epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype and its reverse (from mesenchymal to epithelial) are crucial processes necessary for the progression and spread of cancer. In this paper, we investigate how phenotypic switching at the cancer cell level impacts on behaviour at the tissue level, specifically on the emergence of isolated foci of the invading solid tumour mass leading to a multifocal tumour. To this end, we propose a new mathematical model of cancer invasion that includes the influence of cancer cell phenotype on the rate of invasion and metastasis. The implications of model are explored through numerical simulations revealing that the plasticity of tumour cell phenotypes appears to be crucial for disease progression and local invasive spread. The computational simulations show the progression of the invasive spread of a primary cancer reminiscent of in vivo multifocal breast carcinomas, where multiple, synchronous, ipsilateral neoplastic foci are frequently observed and are associated with a poorer patient prognosis.
Citation
Szymańska , Z , Lachowicz , M , Sfakianakis , N & Chaplain , M A J 2024 , ' Mathematical modelling of cancer invasion : phenotypic transitioning provides insight into multifocal foci formation ' , Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics , vol. 75 , 102175 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocs.2023.102175
Publication
Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0377-0427Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: Z. Szymańska acknowledge the support from the National Science Centre, Poland – grant No. 2017/26/M/ST1/00783. N. Sfakianaki’s scientific visit to the University of Warsaw was partially supported by the Excellence Initiative Research University Programme at the University of Warsaw. M. Lachowicz is happy to acknowledge the support from the New Ideas Grant - ”Równania kinetyczne w opisie zjawisk samoorganizacji” funded by the Excellence Initiative Research University Programme at the University of Warsaw.Collections
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