Non-equilibrium thermodynamics of cancer: Entropy dynamics and metastatic growth

Cancer is a complex dissipative system operating far from equilibrium, characterized by increased entropy production compared to normal tissues. Traditional thermodynamic approaches often fail to capture its full dynamics. In this study, we apply non-equilibrium stochastic thermodynamics to analyze different stages of carcinogenesis: neoplastic transformation (using the Avrami-Dobrzyński approach), tumor growth (described by the Gompertz model), and metastasis, in relation to tumor entropy and self-organization. Our results reveal a relationship between entropy production and tumor expansion rate, indicating that cellular reproduction enhances entropy generation. We also examine the information entropy of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that restricting external energy intake does not halt tumor progression, underscoring the resilience of cancer as an autonomous physical system. These findings highlight the thermodynamic nature of cancer and suggest that metastasis is an inevitable consequence of entropy-driven evolution.