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A linear-elastic model of anisotropic tumour growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2004

R. P. ARAUJO
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane 4001, Queensland, Australia
D. L. S. McELWAIN
Affiliation:
School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane 4001, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of anisotropic growth on the evolution of mechanical stresses in a linear-elastic model of a growing, avascular tumour. This represents an important improvement on previous linear-elastic models of tissue growth since it has been shown recently that spatially-varying isotropic growth of linear-elastic tissues does not afford the necessary stress-relaxation for a steady-state stress distribution upon reaching a nutrient-regulated equilibrium size. Time-dependent numerical solutions are developed using a Lax-Wendroff scheme, which show the evolution of the tissue stress distributions over a period of growth until a steady-state is reached. These results are compared with the steady-state solutions predicted by the model equations, and key parameters influencing these steady-state distributions are identified. Recommendations for further extensions and applications of this model are proposed.

Type
Papers
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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