Non-linear tumor-immune interactions arising from spatial metabolic heterogeneity

A hybrid multiscale mathematical model of tumor growth is used to investigate how tumoral and microenvironmental heterogeneity affect the response of the immune system. The model includes vascular dynamics and evolution of metabolic tumor phenotypes. Cytotoxic T cells are simulated, and their effect on tumor growth is shown to be dependent on the structure of the microenvironment and the distribution of tumor phenotypes. Importantly, no single immune strategy is best at all stages of tumor growth.