title: Modeling the effects of a simple immune system and immunodeficiency on the dynamics of conjointly growing tumor and normal cells.
abstract: In this paper, we develop a theoretical contribution towards the understanding of the complex behavior of conjoint tumor-normal cell growth under the influence of immuno-chemotherapeutic agents under simple immune system response. In particular, we consider a core model for the interaction of tumor cells with the surrounding normal cells. We then add the effects of a simple immune system, and both immune-suppression factors and immuno-chemotherapeutic agents as well. Through a series of numerical simulations, we illustrate that the interdependency of tumor-normal cells, together with choice of drug and the nature of the immunodeficiency, leads to a variety of interesting patterns in the evolution of both the tumor and the normal cell populations.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA. shojanmi@shu.edu
authors.forename: Mitra Shojania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Feizabadi
authors.forename: Tarynn M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Witten
mesh_terms: D048708:Cell Growth Processes; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy