Spatial and Functional Heterogeneities Shape Collective Behavior of Tumor-Immune Networks
Fig 1
Core features of the early tumor-immune network model.
This schematic illustrates key processes captured in the HDC agent-based model. (A) Macrophage polarization and tumor killing. Naïve macrophages (MP) polarize to either an M1 state, in the presence of high levels of Activator signal, or an M2 state, with concomitant exposure to M2 signal (M2S). M1 cells secrete tumor lethality signal (TLS), high levels of which kills tumor cells. (B) Macrophage chemotaxis. All macrophages chemotax along gradients of M2S, which is secreted by the tumor and M2 cells. (C) Vascularization, tumor proliferation, and the effects of oxygen. Oxygen and naïve MP enter at sites of vascularization, which increases as a function of local levels of M2S. All cells die in anoxic conditions, and dead cells are retained (e.g., forming a necrotic tumor core, as depicted). Individual tumor cells divide at a fixed rate, expanding to “invade” neighboring lattice sites.