Open Access

ARTICLE

A Multisclae Probabilisitc Framework to Model Early Steps in Tumor Metastasis

Muhammad H. Zaman^*

* Department of Biomedical Engineering and Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712. mhzaman@mail.utexas.edu

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics 2007, 4(3), 133-142. https://doi.org/10.3970/mcb.2007.004.133

Abstract

Tumor metastasis is the leading cause of nearly all cancer related deaths. While several experimental and computational studies have addressed individual stages of the complex metastasis process, a comprehensive systems-biology model that links various stages of metastasis has not been put forth as of yet. In this paper we discuss the formulation and application of such a model that utilizes basic principles of cell biology, physics and mechanics to study the migratory patterns of tumor cells as they move from the parent tumor site to the connective tissue via the basement membrane. The model is first of its kind in capturing the essential early features of metastasis in a single simulation and shows good agreement with recent experimental studies.

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