Lecture series »Felix-Klein-Colloquium« / 09. Juli 2019, 17:15 – 18:30 h
Mechanical Aspects of Tumour Growth and Spread
The talk will focus on the several phenomena related to tumor growth and spread in which mechanical aspects play a relevant role. After introducing the multiphase framework, the talk will deal with the phenomenon of contact inhibition and then, using continuum mechanics and an individual cell-based model, with the interaction of tumour cells with the sorrounding environment and in particular with the network of fibers that are present in most tissues.
Finally, the phenomenon of cell compartimentalization is described and how its failure can initiate the invasion of the surrounding tissue and the spread of metastasis that need to pass through basal membranes and cell lining in order to penetrate the vascular and lymphatic vessels.
It will be shown how, in order to do that, different mathematical models need to be developed and how information need to pass from microscopic to macroscopic models to have as far as possible a more complete picture.