A computer simulation of the growth of a tumour in vitro

✍ Scribed by Forbes J. Burkowski

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1977
• Weight: 452 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0010-468X
• DOI: 10.1016/0010-468x(77)90028-9

✦ Synopsis

This paper presents a computer model which simulates the growth of an in vitro tumour assumed to be a spheroid. Growth of the tumour is primarily affected by inward diffusion of ambient nutrients and outward diffusion of catabolites which tend to inhibit mitosis of living cells within this colony. In its final stages, the tumour consists of a necrotic core surrounded by a series of concentric shells which are comprised of non-proliferating and partially proliferating cells. Beyond this, an outermost shell of freely proliferating cells is in contact with the ambient medium which contains essential nutrients. The main purpose of this study is the qualitative study of the growth behaviour when various input parameters are altered. As noted in the final discussion, the main import of the paper is the observation that under certain conditions the initial monotonic growth of the tumour may give way to a series of temporary regressions alternating with growth periods. This behaviour eventually dampers out to yield a steady state situation when the amount of cell proliferation is exactly balanced by the decomposition of cells in the necrotic core.