Abstract
This paper investigates cell proliferation dynamics in small tumor cell aggregates using an individual-based model (IBM). The simulation model is designed to study the morphology of the cell population and of the cell lineages as well as the impact of the orientation of the division plane on this morphology. Our IBM model is based on the hypothesis that cells are incompressible objects that grow in size and divide once a threshold size is reached, and that newly born cell adhere to the existing cell cluster. We performed comparisons between the simulation model and experimental data by using several statistical indicators. The results suggest that the emergence of particular morphologies can be explained by simple mechanical interactions.
Highlights
Cancer cells proliferate at a high rate and can be considered as a dynamic population of agents that grow and divide without constraints (Hanahan and Weinberg 2000)
Instead we focus on the role of the orientation of the cell division planes in the morphology of the tumor cells cluster
The above observations lead us to focus on two main questions related to the organization of a growing tumor cell population: what is the impact of the multiplication of cells on the global organization of the entire cell population? Does the orientation of the division plane influence the evolution of the cell population and the organization of its lineages? The comparison of a mathematical model with
Summary
Cancer cells proliferate at a high rate and can be considered as a dynamic population of agents that grow and divide without constraints (Hanahan and Weinberg 2000) (at least in the early phase of avascular growth). We examine a population initially composed of several tens of cells that proliferate to reach several hundreds of cells within a few days. In this situation, the experimental model consists of cancer cells grown in a culture medium containing all the necessary nutrients for their growth and division. Instead we focus on the role of the orientation of the cell division planes in the morphology of the tumor cells cluster. The impact of the orientation of the division plane on the organization of the population has been suggested from recent studies. The above observations lead us to focus on two main questions related to the organization of a growing tumor cell population: what is the impact of the multiplication of cells on the global organization of the entire cell population? Does the orientation of the division plane influence the evolution of the cell population and the organization of its lineages? The comparison of a mathematical model with
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