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Game Theoretical Model of Cancer Dynamics with Four Cell Phenotypes

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Hurlbut

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ethan Ortega

    (Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Igor V. Erovenko

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jonathan T. Rowell

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The development of a cancerous tumor requires affected cells to collectively display an assortment of characteristic behaviors that contribute differently to its growth. A heterogeneous population of tumor cells is far more resistant to treatment than a homogeneous one as different cell types respond dissimilarly to treatments; yet, these cell types are also in competition with one another. This paper models heterogeneous cancer cell interactions within the tumor mass through several game theoretic approaches including classical normal form games, replicator dynamics, and spatial games. Our concept model community consists of four cell strategies: an angiogenesis-factor-producing cell, a proliferative cell, a cytotoxin producing cell, and a neutral stromal cell. By comparing pairwise strategic interactions, invasibility and counter-invasibility, we establish conditions for dominance and the existence of both monomorphic and polymorphic equilibria. The spatial game supports co-occurrence among multiple subpopulations in accordance with biological observations of developing tumors. As the tumor progresses from primarily stromal cells to a more malignant state, angiogenic and cytotoxic cells form clusters while proliferative cells are widespread. The clustering of certain subpopulations suggests insight into the behaviors of cancer cells that could influence future treatment strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Hurlbut & Ethan Ortega & Igor V. Erovenko & Jonathan T. Rowell, 2018. "Game Theoretical Model of Cancer Dynamics with Four Cell Phenotypes," Games, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-16, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jgames:v:9:y:2018:i:3:p:61-:d:167307
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. D. Basanta & H. Hatzikirou & A. Deutsch, 2008. "Studying the emergence of invasiveness in tumours using game theory," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 63(3), pages 393-397, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li You & Maximilian von Knobloch & Teresa Lopez & Vanessa Peschen & Sidney Radcliffe & Praveen Koshy Sam & Frank Thuijsman & Kateřina Staňková & Joel S. Brown, 2019. "Including Blood Vasculature into a Game-Theoretic Model of Cancer Dynamics," Games, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-22, March.
    2. Sam Ganzfried, 2018. "Optimization-Based Algorithm for Evolutionarily Stable Strategies against Pure Mutations," Papers 1803.00607, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2019.

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