A multiphysics model of myoma growth

Abstract

We present a first attempt to create an in-silico model of a uterine leiomyoma, a typical exponent of a common benign tumor. We employ a finite element model to investigate the interaction between a chemically driven growth of the pathology and the mechanical response of the surrounding healthy tissue. The model includes neoplastic tissue growth, oxygen and growth factor transport as well as angiogenic sprouting. Neovascularisation is addressed implicitly by modeling proliferation of endothelial cells and their migration up the gradient of the angiogenic growth factor, produced in hypoxic regions of the tumor. The response of the surrounding healthy tissue in our model is that of a viscoelastic material, whereby a stress exerted by expanding neoplasm is slowly dissipated. By incorporating the interplay of four underlying processes we are able to explain experimental findings on the pathology's phenotype. The model has a potential to become a computer simulation tool to study various growing conditions and treatment strategies and to predict post-treatment conditions of a benign tumor. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.