Effects of anatomical constraints on tumor growth - art. no. 021903

Competition for available nutrients and the presence of anatomical barriers are major determinants of tumor growth in vivo. We extend a model recently proposed to simulate the growth of neoplasms in real tissues to include ge ometrical constraints mimicking pressure effects on the tumor surface induc ed by the presence of rigid or semirigid structures. Different tissues have different diffusivities for nutrients and cells. Despite the simplicity of the approach, based on a few inherently local mechanisms, the numerical re sults agree qualitatively with clinical data (computed tomography scans of neoplasms) for the larynx and the oral cavity.