Sensitivity analysis of a multi-physics model for the vascular microenvironment

100/2023

Sensitivity analysis of a multi-physics model for the vascular microenvironment

Thursday 14th December 2023

Vitullo, P.; Cicci, L.; Possenti, L.; Coclite, A.; Costantino, M.L.; Zunino, P.

The vascular microenvironment is the scale at which microvascular transport, interstitial tissue properties and cell metabolism interact. The vascular microenvironment has been widely studied by means of quantitative approaches, including multi-physics mathematical models as it is a central system for the pathophysiology of many diseases, such as cancer. The microvascular architecture is a key factor for the fluid balance and mass transfer in the vascular microenvironment, together with the physical parameters characterizing the vascular wall and the interstitial tissue. The scientific literature of this field has witnessed a long debate about which factor of this multifaceted system is the most relevant. The purpose of this work is to combine the interpretative power of an advanced multi-physics model of the vascular microenvironment with state of the art, robust sensitivity analysis methods, in order to determine what factors affect the most some quantity of interest, related in particular to cancer treatment. We are particularly interested in comparing the factors related to the microvascular architecture with the ones affecting the physics of microvascular transport. Ultimately, this work will provide further insight of how the vascular microenvironment affects cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy.

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Vitullo P., Cicci L., Possenti L., Coclite A., Costantino M.L., Zunino P. Sensitivity analysis of a multi-physics model for the vascular microenvironment(2023) International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, 39 (11), art. no. e3752