Computational Model of Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ

Breast cancer, when found in its early stages, is a manageable disease. When detected, biopsied, and diagnosed, lesions such as ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) or invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) are promptly removed. Consequently, the natural history of DCIS and IDC in-vivo is not well known. DCIS manifests itself with various distinctive patterns and pathologies. In order to study the growth differences between these types of the in-situ disease, namely papillary, cribriform, solid, and comedo, a cellular automaton model has been developed. The model’s focus has been placed on observed cellular phenomenon which have been identified via traditional in-vitro, animal, and histological studies of DCIS. Two scenarios for the model are compared here: one in which the luminal epithelial cells contribute to contact inhibition of the cancerous cells and one where they do not. Differing growth characteristics will be discussed for each simulated scenario.