Mathematical modelling of flow in 2D and 3D vascular networks: Applications to anti-angiogenic and chemotherapeutic drug strategies

We conclude by focusing on a particular vascular network and investigate how “capillary pruning” (i.e., network re-modelling) modifies the network connectivity and associated blood flow distribution. We demonstrate how random removal of vessels may lead to a significant increase in the amount of drug delivered to the tumour. Selective removal of vessels characterized by low flow is seen to speed up delivery, whilst the targeting of high flow capillaries leads to a rapid shut down of the entire capillary bed. These results allow us to propose the possibility of optimized cancer treatment therapies, based upon a coupled anti-angiogenic/chemotherapy strategy-the anti-angiogenesis treatment would be used to optimize network efficiency, thereby maximizing drug uptake during subsequent chemotherapy treatments.