The role of EMT in Ovarian Cancer: Insights from a Mathematical Model

SamuelOliver

Swansea University

"The role of EMT in Ovarian Cancer: Insights from a Mathematical Model"

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process in cancer progression that can significantly reduce the effectiveness of treatments. EMT occurs when cells undergo phenotypic changes, resulting in altered behaviours compared to their original state. This transition may lead to increased drug resistance, greater cell plasticity, and enhanced metastatic potential. As a result, understanding and studying the role of EMT in tumour progression and treatment response is essential. In this study, we utilise a 3D agent-based multiscale modelling framework with PhysiCell to examine the role of EMT over time in two ovarian cancer cell lines, OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3. This approach enables us to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of ovarian cancer and provide insights into the development of the tumours. The model incorporates microenvironmental conditions, adjusting cellular behaviours based on factors such as substrate concentrations and the proximity of neighbouring cells. The OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cell lines exhibit significantly different tumour architectures, allowing for the exploration of various tumour dynamics and morphologies. The model successfully captures biological patterns observed in tumour growth and progression, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of these cell lines. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the impact of parameter variations on model outcomes.
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