Studying the capability of different cancer hallmarks to initiate tumor growth using a cellular automaton simulation. Application in a cancer stem cell context

Ángel Monteagudo; José Santos

doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.11.001

Studying the capability of different cancer hallmarks to initiate tumor growth using a cellular automaton simulation. Application in a cancer stem cell context

Biosystems. 2014 Jan:115:46-58. doi: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.11.001. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Authors

Ángel Monteagudo¹, José Santos²

Affiliations

¹ University of A Coruña, Department of Computer Science, Campus de Elviña s/n, 15071 A Coruña, Spain.
² University of A Coruña, Department of Computer Science, Campus de Elviña s/n, 15071 A Coruña, Spain. Electronic address: santos@udc.es.

PMID: 24262634
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2013.11.001

Abstract

We used a cellular automaton model for cancer growth simulation at cellular level, based on the presence of different cancer hallmarks acquired by the cells. The presence of the hallmarks in each of the cells determines cell mitotic and apoptotic behaviors. Depending on the presence of the different hallmarks and some associated parameters of the hallmarks, the system can evolve to different dynamics. We used the cellular automaton model to inspect the capability of different hallmarks to generate tumor growth in different conditions, using this study in a cancer stem cell context to analyze the capability of the hallmarks to tumor regrowth in different circumstances.

Keywords: Cancer growth modeling; Cancer stem cells; Cellular automata; Cellular behavior.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Apoptosis / physiology
Carcinogenesis*
Computational Biology / methods*
Computer Simulation
Mitosis / physiology
Models, Biological*
Neoplasms / physiopathology*
Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology*