Mathematical modelling of cancer invasion: the multiple roles of TGF-β pathway on tumour proliferation and cell adhesion

In this paper, we develop a non-local mathematical model describing cancer cell invasion and movement as a result of integrin-controlled cell–cell adhesion and cell–matrix adhesion, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) effect on cell proliferation and adhesion, for two cancer cell populations with different levels of mutation. The model consists of partial integro-differential equations describing the dynamics of two cancer cell populations, coupled with ordinary differential equations describing the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and the production and decay of integrins, and with a parabolic PDE governing the evolution of TGF-β concentration. We prove the global existence of weak solutions to the model. We then use our model to explore numerically the role of TGF-β in cell aggregation and movement.