Computing steady-state solutions for a free boundary problem modeling tumor growth by Stokes equation

Abstract

We consider a free boundary problem modeling tumor growth where the model equations include a diffusion equation for the nutrient concentration and the Stokes equation for the proliferation of tumor cells. For any positive radius R, it is known that there exists a unique radially symmetric stationary solution. The proliferation rate μ and the cell-to-cell adhesiveness γ are two parameters for characterizing “aggressiveness” of the tumor. We compute symmetry-breaking bifurcation branches of solutions by studying a polynomial discretization of the system. By tracking the discretized system, we numerically verified a sequence of μ/γ symmetry breaking bifurcation branches. Furthermore, we study the stability of both radially symmetric and radially asymmetric stationary solutions.