A monolithic multiphase porous medium framework for (a-)vascular tumor growth

Area of Science:

• Computational modeling
• Biophysics
• Tumor microenvironment

Background:

• Tumor growth involves complex interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix.
• Angiogenesis, or new blood vessel formation, significantly impacts tumor progression and drug delivery.
• Accurate modeling of tumor vascularization is essential for predicting therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dynamic, multiphase computational model for tumor growth incorporating angiogenesis.
• To investigate the role of neovasculature in interstitial fluid dynamics and tumor pressure.
• To compare different numerical schemes for solving the complex multiphase model.

Main Methods:

• A multiphase porous medium framework based on Thermodynamically Constrained Averaging Theory was employed.
• Tumor growth and angiogenesis were modeled within a consistent Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian formulation.
• A five-phase model (extracellular matrix, tumor cells, host cells, interstitial fluid, neovasculature) was developed and solved using various coupling schemes.

Main Results:

• The model successfully reproduces increased interstitial pressure within tumors, a key factor in drug delivery.
• Transcapillary leakage and lymphatic drainage were incorporated and modeled.
• A fully monolithic approach demonstrated superior robustness and computational efficiency compared to partitioned and hybrid schemes.

Conclusions:

• The novel dynamic vascular tumor model provides a robust framework for simulating tumor growth with angiogenesis.
• The model's ability to capture interstitial pressure dynamics is vital for improving drug delivery strategies.
• The flexible implementation allows for future extensions, enhancing its utility in cancer research.