A Multiscale Approach to the Migration of Cancer Stem Cells: Mathematical Modelling and Simulations

We propose a multiscale model for the invasion of the extracellular matrix by two types of cancer cells, the differentiated cancer cells and the cancer stem cells. We investigate the epithelial mesenchymal-like transition between them being driven primarily by the epidermal growth factors. We moreov...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of mathematical biology 2017, Vol.79 (1), p.209-235
Main Authors: Sfakianakis, Nikolaos, Kolbe, Niklas, Hellmann, Nadja, Lukáčová-Medvid’ová, Mária
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cell Biology
Cell Movement
Cell Transdifferentiation
Computer Simulation
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Extracellular Matrix - pathology
Extracellular Matrix - physiology
Humans
Life Sciences
Mathematical and Computational Biology
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematics
Mathematics and Statistics
Models, Biological
Neoplasm Invasiveness
Neoplastic Stem Cells - pathology
Neoplastic Stem Cells - physiology
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Summary:We propose a multiscale model for the invasion of the extracellular matrix by two types of cancer cells, the differentiated cancer cells and the cancer stem cells. We investigate the epithelial mesenchymal-like transition between them being driven primarily by the epidermal growth factors. We moreover take into account the transdifferentiation program of the cancer stem cells towards the cancer-associated fibroblast cells as well as the fibroblast-driven remodelling of the extracellular matrix. The proposed haptotaxis model combines the macroscopic phenomenon of the invasion of the extracellular matrix by both types of cancer cells with the microscopic dynamics of the epidermal growth factors. We analyse our model in a component-wise manner and compare our findings with the literature. We investigate pathological situations regarding the epidermal growth factors and accordingly propose “mathematical-treatment” scenarios to control the aggressiveness of the tumour.
ISSN:0092-8240
1522-9602
DOI:10.1007/s11538-016-0233-6