Mathematical modelling of cancer invasion: Implications of cell adhesion variability for tumour infiltrative growth patterns

• A model of cancer invasion is presented with a focus on the role of adhesion.
• We consider both cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion.
• Changes in adhesion are investigated through time-dependent adhesion characteristics.
• The computational simulation results show a range of heterogeneous dynamics.
• Our results are qualitatively similar to observed tumour infiltrative growth patterns.

Cancer invasion, recognised as one of the hallmarks of cancer, is a complex, multiscale phenomenon involving many inter-related genetic, biochemical, cellular and tissue processes at different spatial and temporal scales. Central to invasion is the ability of cancer cells to alter and degrade an extracellular matrix. Combined with abnormal excessive proliferation and migration which is enabled and enhanced by altered cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion, the cancerous mass can invade the neighbouring tissue. Along with tumour-induced angiogenesis, invasion is a key component of metastatic spread, ultimately leading to the formation of secondary tumours in other parts of the host body.In this paper we explore the spatio-temporal dynamics of a model of cancer invasion, where cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesion is accounted for through non-local interaction terms in a system of partial integro-differential equations. The change of adhesion properties during cancer growth and development is investigated here through time-dependent adhesion characteristics within the cell population as well as those between the cells and the components of the extracellular matrix. Our computational simulation results demonstrate a range of heterogeneous dynamics which are qualitatively similar to the invasive growth patterns observed in a number of different types of cancer, such as tumour infiltrative growth patterns (INF).