The Impact of Oxygen Distribution on the Tumor Necrotic Region: A Two-phase Model

Abstract

In an in vivo situation, the tissue near a blood vessel is rich in oxygen supply compared to the one far from a blood vessel. In this article, our objective is to explore the effect of non-uniform oxygen supply on the development of the necrotic core of a tumor. We adopt a multiphase continuum-based approach to model the growth of a tumor. To simulate the model, a finite-difference-based numerical approach in line with the “Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure-Linked Equations" (SIMPLE) algorithm is adopted. Investigations reveal that the necrotic core develops near the boundary with lower oxygen concentration. The position of the necrotic core strongly depends on the oxygen supply through the tumor boundary. The results predict asymmetrical tumor growth under unequal oxygen supply at tumor boundaries. Also, it is hinted that a tumor with a larger necrotic core grows more slowly than a tumor containing a smaller necrotic core. The present model has the potential to anticipate in vivo and in vitro situations. The findings will be beneficial for clinicians and medical practitioners in predicting the stage of a tumor.