Multiscale agent-based modelling of ovarian cancer progression under the stimulation of the STAT 3 pathway.

Abstract

This research is developed to simulate ovarian cancer progression with signal transducers and activators of the transcription 3 (STAT 3) pathway. The main focus is on studying how the STAT 3 pathway affects the cancer cells' biomechanical phenotype under the stimulation of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine and various well-known microscopic factors. The simulated results agreed with recent experimental evidence that ovarian cancer cells with a stimulated STAT 3 pathway have high survival rates and drug resistance. And we discussed how the IL6 and these well-known microscopic factors impacted the cancer progression.