ABM-TKI

ABM-TKI simulates brain tumor growth and treatment response by integrating an agent-based model of tumor cells with EGFR signaling, a cell-cycle pathway, angiogenesis, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) delivery in the tumor microenvironment.

Key Features:

• Multi-Scale Modeling: Integrates cellular-level dynamics and microenvironmental factors to simulate tumor growth and treatment responses.
• EGFR Signaling Pathway Integration: Models EGFR signaling within each tumor cell and couples it to a cell-cycle pathway to determine cellular phenotype and behavior.
• Angiogenesis Module: Implements an angiogenesis module based on reaction-diffusion equations that models spatio-temporal dynamics of glucose, oxygen, TGFα, VEGF, and fibronectin.
• TKI Treatment Simulation: Introduces tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) via tumor microvasculature and models their effects on EGFR signaling, cell survival, and proliferation.
• Dual Role of Angiogenesis: Represents angiogenesis as facilitating TKI delivery while also supplying nutrients such as glucose and oxygen that can promote tumor cell survival.

Scientific Applications:

• Predictive Analysis: Predicts brain tumor responses to specific TKI treatments to support development of personalized therapeutic strategies.
• Mechanistic Insights: Provides insights into the interactions between EGFR signaling and angiogenesis in tumor biology.
• Therapeutic Strategy Development: Enables simulation of treatment scenarios to evaluate the effects of TKI administration and vascular changes on tumor progression.

Methodology:

Combines agent-based modeling with reaction-diffusion equations; individual tumor cells are modeled as autonomous agents with EGFR and cell-cycle pathways, and TKIs are modeled as delivered through the vascular network.