Simulating an Immune Response with a Combined Agent-Based Model of a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Tumor and Vascular Network

Cytotoxic T-cells (CTLs) are one mechanism the immune system employs to eliminate cancer cells. In this study, we expand upon a previous 3-dimensional agent-based model of triple-negative breast cancer to include an immuno-therapy in the form of a CTL insertion into the tumor. The model consists of a triple-negative breast tumor, comprised of progenitor cells, cancer stem cells, tumor-associated macrophages, as well as an expanding vascular network. We investigate the treatment effects of inserting different numbers of CTLs into the tumor microenvironment, and their overall effect on tumor size in the short and longer terms. The results show that while CTLs decrease the size of the tumor they are ineffective at completely eliminating it, leading to continued tumor proliferation in the aftermath.