A mathematical model of cytotoxic and helper T cell interactions in a tumour microenvironment

Authors

  • Heidi Dritschel Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Author
  • Sarah L. Waters Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Author
  • Andreas Roller Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland Author
  • Helen M.Byrne Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30707/LiB5.2Dritschel

Keywords:

Cancer, Immunology, Tcells, ODEs, asymptotics

Abstract

We develop a mathematical model to examine the role of helper and cytotoxic T cells in an anti-tumour immune response. The model comprises three ordinary differential equations describing the dynamics of the tumour cells, the helper and the cytotoxic T cells, and implicitly accounts for immunosuppressive effects. The aim is to investigate how the anti-tumour immune response varies with the level of infiltrating helper and cytotoxic T cells. Through a combination of analytical studies and numerical simulations, our model exemplifies the three Es of immunoediting: elimination, equilibrium and escape. Specifically, it reveals that the three Es of immunoediting depend highly on the infiltration rates of the helper and cytotoxic T cells. The model's results indicate that both the helper and cytotoxic T cells play a key role in tumour elimination. They also show that combination therapies that boost the immune system and block tumour-induced immunosuppression may have a synergistic effect in reducing tumour growth.

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Published

2018-06-30

How to Cite

A mathematical model of cytotoxic and helper T cell interactions in a tumour microenvironment. (2018). Letters in Biomathematics, 5(2), 36-68. https://doi.org/10.30707/LiB5.2Dritschel

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