Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) simulation

Note: An updated version of this is available at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_GVnZWVhgk

Agent-based simulation of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a type of breast cancer that is constrained to growth in the breast duct lumen by a basement membrane. Shown here: a simulation of 30 days' growth in a 1mm length of duct.

The mechanical and population dynamic parameters have been calibrated to patient-specific immunohistochemistry and other histologic measurements.

Dark circles: cell nuclei
Green cells: proliferating cells (Ki-67 positive; S, G2, M, or G1)
Red cells: apoptosis cells (cleaved Caspase-3 positive)
Pale blue cells: quiescent cells (G0)
Dark grey cells: necrotic cells prior to lysis
Debris in centre of duct: necrotic cellular debris
Red dots in centre of duct: clinically-detectable microcalcifications

Method: Agent-based, lattice-free model. Cell velocities determined by balance of adhesive and repulsive forces. Each cell has a phenotypic state governed by stochastic processes derived from nonhomogeneous Poisson processes.

Source: Macklin et al., "Patient-calibrated agent-based modelling of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): From microscopic measurements to macroscopic predictions of clinical progression." J. Theor. Biol., 2012 (in press).

Preprint: http://www.MathCancer.org/Publications.php#macklin12_jtb
publisher: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.02.002

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• agent-based model
• tumour simulation
• tumor simulation
• DCIS
• ductal carcinoma in situ
• comedonecrosis
• breast cancer
• breast cancer simulation
• cancer simulation
• mathematical model
• biomathematics
• necrosis
• calcification