Studying the emergence of invasiveness in tumours using game theory

TL;DR

This paper develops a game theory-based mathematical model and simulations to understand how increased cell motility mutations spread in tumors, offering insights for therapies to prevent malignancy and invasiveness.

Contribution

It introduces a novel game theory model combined with cellular automata simulations to study tumor invasiveness and mutation spread.

Findings

Mutations conferring increased motility can spread under certain conditions.

The model suggests potential therapeutic strategies to prevent tumor progression.

Increased motility mutations are more likely to spread in rapidly proliferating tumors.

Abstract

Tumour cells have to acquire a number of capabilities if a neoplasm is to become a cancer. One of these key capabilities is increased motility which is needed for invasion of other tissues and metastasis. This paper presents a qualitative mathematical model based on game theory and computer simulations using cellular automata. With this model we study the circumstances under which mutations that confer increased motility to cells can spread through a tumour made of rapidly proliferating cells. The analysis suggests therapies that could help prevent the progression towards malignancy and invasiveness of benign tumours.