A hybrid discrete–continuous model of metastatic cancer cell migration through a remodeling extracellular matrix

A major cause of cancer mortality is metastasis of cancer cells from a localized tumor to other parts of the body. The interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment, particularly the extracellular matrix (ECM), are central to metastatic migration. During metastasis, en...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAIChE journal Vol. 65; no. 9
Main Authors Nguyen Edalgo, Yen T., Zornes, Anya L., Ford Versypt, Ashlee N.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.2019
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Subjects
Cancer
Cell adhesion & migration
Cell migration
Collagen
CompuCell3D
computational modeling
Computer applications
Computer simulation
Cross-linking
Crosslinking
Differential equations
Enzymes
Extracellular matrix
Fibers
lysyl oxidase
matrix metalloproteinases
Metastases
Metastasis
Organic chemistry
Partial differential equations
systems biology
tumor microenvironment
Tumors
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Summary:A major cause of cancer mortality is metastasis of cancer cells from a localized tumor to other parts of the body. The interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment, particularly the extracellular matrix (ECM), are central to metastatic migration. During metastasis, enzymes are secreted to degrade and crosslink collagen fibers in the ECM, inducing structural alterations and changes in the properties of the ECM. The mechanism of how these changes facilitate the directional motility of cancer cells along the collagen fibers remains unclear. A hybrid discrete–continuous computational model is developed via the software CompuCell3D to simulate the migration of metastatic cancer cells through the ECM during chemical and physical remodeling. Cancer cells are treated as discrete agents, and ECM components (collagen fibers and remodeling enzymes) are modeled by partial differential equations. The computational model of cancer migration provides understanding of how ECM remodeling affects migration efficiency.
Bibliography:Funding information
Yen T. Nguyen Edalgo, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634.
Oklahoma State University
Present address
ISSN:0001-1541
1547-5905
DOI:10.1002/aic.16671