Novel 3D Advancements in Multiscale Leading Edge and Bulk Dynamics Modelling For Solid Tumours Invasion (Keynote Speaker Talk)

TY - CONF

T1 - Novel 3D Advancements in Multiscale Leading Edge and Bulk Dynamics Modelling For Solid Tumours Invasion (Keynote Speaker Talk)

AU - Trucu, Dumitru

PY - 2026/6/23

Y1 - 2026/6/23

N2 - Despite all recent in vivo, in vitro, and in silico advances, the understanding of the genuine biologically multiscale process of solid tumour invasion remains one of the greatest open questions for scientific community. In this talk we present novel mathematical multiscale moving boundary modelling and structural analytical approaches for tumour invasion. Specifically, we focus on characterizing mathematically key aspects of the dynamic interactions that the migratory cancer cells population and the accompanying matrix degrading enzymes (MDEs) have with the extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and in particular with the ECM fibres. These are complex interactions enabled by a series of integrated multiscale systems, which are at least two-scale in nature and share (and contribute to) the same tumour macro-dynamics (i.e., tissue-scale dynamics) but have independent-in-nature micro-dynamics (i.e., cell-scale dynamics). For instance, on the bulk of the tumour, of major interest is the dynamics of fibres degradation and structural realignment occurring at micro-scale as well as the immediate impact that this continuously changing field of oriented ECM fibres has over the tumour macro-dynamics. On the other hand, the cell-scale proteolytic micro-dynamics occurring at the tumour invasive edge interacts with the peritumoural ECM fibres through the molecular fluxes of MDEs. This interfacial cell-scale interaction not only results in changes in the micro-scale structural distribution of peritumoural ECM fibres but also influences directly the overall tumour morphology evolution. From mathematical modelling perspective, the initial multiscale moving boundary framework introduced and established in Trucu et al. 2013 (https://doi.org/10.1137/110839011) and further developed in Shuttleworth and Trucu 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-019-00598-w) and Suveges et al. 2021 (https://doi.org/10.3390/math9182214) was appropriately built to enable a flexible platform for addressing all these collective cell motility dynamic aspects common to most solid tumours growth and spread. However, remaining always mindful of the far greater complexity exhibited by the invasion process in vivo, in this talk we will discuss three novel advancements that we propose for this multiscale framework that aim to address ever more sophisticated, cross-scale interconnected processes underlying solid cancer progression, notably glioblastoma invasion of the brain and its post-surgical recurrence. Specifically, these advancements aim to bring to the fore key aspects regarding ECM fibres effects at tumour interfaces and nutrient availability within cellular sensing regions. These extensions are structured on the following three avenues and include: (1) influence of the interfacial ECM fibres of tumour boundary movement; (2) non-local collective cell motility “go-or-grow” behaviour; and (3) transitions from isotropic to anisotropic GBM invasion patterns. With this updated multiscale moving boundary modelling framework, we proceed to investigate further aspects in GBM dynamics, including the emergence of cellular stress and stress-induced resistance mechanisms driven by hypoxia and treatment, as well as the role of metabolic factors in relapse.

AB - Despite all recent in vivo, in vitro, and in silico advances, the understanding of the genuine biologically multiscale process of solid tumour invasion remains one of the greatest open questions for scientific community. In this talk we present novel mathematical multiscale moving boundary modelling and structural analytical approaches for tumour invasion. Specifically, we focus on characterizing mathematically key aspects of the dynamic interactions that the migratory cancer cells population and the accompanying matrix degrading enzymes (MDEs) have with the extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and in particular with the ECM fibres. These are complex interactions enabled by a series of integrated multiscale systems, which are at least two-scale in nature and share (and contribute to) the same tumour macro-dynamics (i.e., tissue-scale dynamics) but have independent-in-nature micro-dynamics (i.e., cell-scale dynamics). For instance, on the bulk of the tumour, of major interest is the dynamics of fibres degradation and structural realignment occurring at micro-scale as well as the immediate impact that this continuously changing field of oriented ECM fibres has over the tumour macro-dynamics. On the other hand, the cell-scale proteolytic micro-dynamics occurring at the tumour invasive edge interacts with the peritumoural ECM fibres through the molecular fluxes of MDEs. This interfacial cell-scale interaction not only results in changes in the micro-scale structural distribution of peritumoural ECM fibres but also influences directly the overall tumour morphology evolution. From mathematical modelling perspective, the initial multiscale moving boundary framework introduced and established in Trucu et al. 2013 (https://doi.org/10.1137/110839011) and further developed in Shuttleworth and Trucu 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-019-00598-w) and Suveges et al. 2021 (https://doi.org/10.3390/math9182214) was appropriately built to enable a flexible platform for addressing all these collective cell motility dynamic aspects common to most solid tumours growth and spread. However, remaining always mindful of the far greater complexity exhibited by the invasion process in vivo, in this talk we will discuss three novel advancements that we propose for this multiscale framework that aim to address ever more sophisticated, cross-scale interconnected processes underlying solid cancer progression, notably glioblastoma invasion of the brain and its post-surgical recurrence. Specifically, these advancements aim to bring to the fore key aspects regarding ECM fibres effects at tumour interfaces and nutrient availability within cellular sensing regions. These extensions are structured on the following three avenues and include: (1) influence of the interfacial ECM fibres of tumour boundary movement; (2) non-local collective cell motility “go-or-grow” behaviour; and (3) transitions from isotropic to anisotropic GBM invasion patterns. With this updated multiscale moving boundary modelling framework, we proceed to investigate further aspects in GBM dynamics, including the emergence of cellular stress and stress-induced resistance mechanisms driven by hypoxia and treatment, as well as the role of metabolic factors in relapse.

KW - Keynote Speaker

UR - https://sfbt-sfbt2026poitiers.apps.math.cnrs.fr

UR - https://sfbt-sfbt2026poitiers.apps.math.cnrs.fr/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/20260615_livretDefinitif_23-24juin_SFBT2026.pdf

M3 - Paper

T2 - 42-ème Colloque de la Société Francophone de Biologie Théorique

Y2 - 21 June 2026 through 24 June 2026

ER -