Simulation of Tumor Growth and Division Under Chemical Driving Forces Using the Phase Field Method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

In this paper, growth and division of tumors are investigated using the phase field modeling. By considering the environment as fluid, conditions such as chemotaxis and haptotaxis processes are used to study the growth and division of tumors. In this model, growth pressure, velocity field and different concentrations coupled with the phase field equation are used to simulate the membrane of the tumor, separating it from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Also, processes such as chemotaxis and haptotaxis, different meshes, initial tumor ovalities, interface thicknesses and surface tensions are used to model the tumor evolution. The obtained results show that in tumors with higher initial ovality, the evolution accelerates but the morphology remains unchanged. Using this model, a membrane thickness range is found, out of which the growth is unphysically suppressed. Large and small surface tension coefficient suppresses the growth and leads to the interface widening, respectively. The physical range of the surface tension coefficient is also found, below which the growth is suppressed and above which interface widening occurs. The rate of tumor growth increases by adding the haptotaxis and in particular, chemotaxis. The former results in tumor dividing while the latter causes the tumor branching. Higher taxis coefficient results in higher branching rate. Chemotaxis shows a larger effect on the tumor morphology and kinetics than the haptotaxis. Combining both mechanisms leads to simultaneous tumor division and branching. The obtained results help for a better understanding of the key parameters in tumor growth and division.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Journal of Computational Methods in Engineering
Volume 44, Issue 2 - Serial Number 30
December 2025
Pages 105-126

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