A mathematical model of viral oncology as an immuno-oncology instigator

Abstract

We develop and analyse a mathematical model of tumour–immune interaction that explicitly incorporates heterogeneity in tumour cell cycle duration by using a distributed delay differential equation. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for local stability of the cancer-free equilibrium in which the amount of tumour–immune interaction completely characterizes disease progression. Consistent with the immunoediting hypothesis, we show that decreasing tumour–immune interaction leads to tumour expansion. Finally, by simulating the mathematical model, we show that the strength of tumour–immune interaction determines the long-term success or failure of viral therapy.