Mathematical and Computational Modeling for Tumor Virotherapy with Mediated Immunity

Bull Math Biol. 2017 Aug;79(8):1736-1758. doi: 10.1007/s11538-017-0304-3. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Abstract

We propose a new mathematical modeling framework based on partial differential equations to study tumor virotherapy with mediated immunity. The model incorporates both innate and adaptive immune responses and represents the complex interaction among tumor cells, oncolytic viruses, and immune systems on a domain with a moving boundary. Using carefully designed computational methods, we conduct extensive numerical simulation to the model. The results allow us to examine tumor development under a wide range of settings and provide insight into several important aspects of the virotherapy, including the dependence of the efficacy on a few key parameters and the delay in the adaptive immunity. Our findings also suggest possible ways to improve the virotherapy for tumor treatment.

Keywords: Innate and adaptive immune responses; Mathematical modeling; Tumor virotherapy.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity*
  • Humans
  • Immune System
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Neoplasms
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy*
  • Oncolytic Viruses*