A numerical study of tumor cell arrest in microvessels qualifying for mechanical entrapment

During hematogenous metastasis, the arrest of tumor cells in microvasculature is a prerequisite for extravasation from circulation to distant host organ. To reveal such behavior, we implement three-dimensional numerical simulations on motion single cell microvessels at cellular scale and mainly investigate interactions among mechanical entrapment, adhesion, stiffness, their effects arrest. Two types vascular configurations qualifying entrapment are considered, constriction bifurcation structures that comparable diameter with cell. The main results indicate tube, as radius increased, tendency number adhesion bonds increases increasing shear modulus becomes more obvious. However, behavior has little effect region, regardless bonds. plays important role than stiffness tube. In bifurcated likely be arrested region small angle. Moreover, angle or decreased, increasingly These helpful understanding biomechanism metastasis.