Asymptotic behavior of solutions of a free boundary problem modelling the growth of tumors with Stokes equations

Abstract

We study a free boundary problem modelling the growth of non-necrotic tumors with fluid-like tissues. The fluid velocity satisfies Stokes equations with a source determined by the proliferation rate of tumor cells which depends on the concentration of nutrients, subject to a boundary condition with stress tensor effected by surface tension. It is easy to prove that this problem has a unique radially symmetric stationary solution. By using a functional approach, we prove that there exists a threshold value γ* > 0 for the surface tension coefficient $\gamma$, such that in the case γ > γ* this radially symmetric stationary solution is asymptotically stable under small non-radial perturbations, whereas in the opposite case it is unstable.