Computational models of cancer cell transport through the microcirculation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Biology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Metastatic spread involves complex, interdependent steps in microcirculation not fully understood.
• Cancer cell transport is crucial for metastasis, influenced by fluid dynamics and cell interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review computational models for simulating cancer cell transport in microcirculation.
• To highlight insights gained from these in silico methods into metastatic spread.

Main Methods:

• Development of in silico methods to model circulatory flows of cancer cells.
• Resolution of cellular-scale dynamics, including fluid flow, cell deformation, and interactions.
• Modeling of cell-to-endothelium interactions and tumor cell aggregates.

Main Results:

• Accurate and efficient modeling of biological cell transport in complex geometries.
• Detailed simulation of fluid flow fields and their impact on cell movement.
• Understanding of cell deformation, interactions, and adhesion in the context of metastasis.

Conclusions:

• Computational models provide a powerful complement to experimental cancer research.
• In silico approaches offer controlled environments to study parameters like shear rate and cell deformability.
• These models are promising for recapitulating endogenous settings to understand tumor cell transport.