Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 January 2012
A computational framework for testing the effects of cytotoxic molecules, specific to agiven phase of the cell cycle, and vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) is presented. Themodel is based on a cellular automaton to describe tumour cell states transitions fromproliferation to death. It is coupled with a model describing the tumour vasculature andits adaptation to the blood rheological constraints when alterations are induced by VDAstreatment. Several therapeutic protocols in two structurally different vascular networkswere tested by varying the duration of cytotoxic drug perfusion and the periodicity oftreatment cycles. The impact of VDAs were also tested both experimentally from intravitalmicroscopy through a dorsal skinfold chamber on a mouse and numerically. Simulationresults show that combining cytotoxic treatment with a post treatment of VDA through ajudicious timing could favour the rapid eradication of the tumour. The computationalframework thus gives some insights into the outcome of cytotoxic and VDAs treatments on aqualitative basis. Future validation from our experimental setup could open up newperspectives towards Computer-Assisted Therapeutic Strategies.