Phase transitions in tumor growth VI: Epithelial–Mesenchymal transition

• Published in: Physica A Vol. 499; pp. 208 - 215
• Main Authors: Guerra, A., Rodriguez, D.J., Montero, S., Betancourt-Mar, J.A., Martin, R.R., Silva, E., Bizzarri, M., Cocho, G., Mansilla, R., Nieto-Villar, J.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2018
• Subjects: Biological phase transition; Entropy production rate; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Phenotypic transitions in cancer cell evolution; Tumor-microenvironment cross-talk; Entropy production rate; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Phenotypic transitions in cancer cell evolution; Biological phase transition; Tumor-microenvironment cross-talk
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2018.01.040

Herewith we discuss a network model of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) based on our previous proposed framework. The EMT appears as a “first order” phase transition process, analogous to the transitions observed in the chemical–physical field. Chiefly, EMT should be considered a transition characterized by a supercritical Andronov–Hopf bifurcation, with the emergence of limit cycle and, consequently, a cascade of saddle-foci Shilnikov’s bifurcations. We eventually show that the entropy production rate is an EMT-dependent function and, as such, its formalism reminds the van der Waals equation. •Cancer as an open, complex, self-organizing nonlinear dynamic system.•The epithelial–mesenchymal transition appears as “first order” phase transition.•EMT exhibit a Shilnikov’s chaos.