Multiscale Agent-based Model of Tumor Angiogenesis

Computational models of cancer complement the biological study of tumor growth. However, existing modeling approaches can be both inefficient and inaccurate due to the difficulties of representing the complex interactions between cells and tissues. We present a three-dimensional multiscale agent-based model of tumor growth with angiogenesis. The model is designed to easily adapt to various cancer types, although we focus on breast cancer. It includes cellular (genetic control), tissue (cells, blood vessels, angiogenesis), and molecular (VEGF, diffusion) levels of representation. Unlike in most cancer models, both normally functioning tissue cells and tumor cells are included in the model. Tumors grow following the expected spheroid cluster pattern, with growth limited by available oxygen. Angiogenesis, the process by which tumors may encourage new vessel growth for nutrient diffusion, is modeled with a new discrete approach that we propose will decrease computational cost. Our results show that despite proposing these new abstractions, we see similar results to previously accepted angiogenesis models. This may indicate that a more discrete approach should be considered by modelers in the future.