A Computational Model of the Tumor Microenvironment Applied to Fractionated Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy consists in delivering a precise radiation dose to a specific tumor target in order to eradicate tumor cells and to achieve local tumor control. The definition of the most suitable radiotherapy treatment schedule is not trivial due to the large tumor heterogeneity reported in clinical practice. The ultimate goal is to prescribe a specific treatment pattern for each patient, considering all the different radiobiological properties of the tumor/normal tissues to achieve the best final result possible. The model presented in this work goes in this direction, analyzing oxygen dependency and the role of the vascular network in the tumor microenvironment, since the efficacy of radiation therapy also depends on local oxygen availability. The main purpose of this work is to develop a mathematical model that describes the interaction between microvascular oxygen transfer and the efficacy of fractionated radiotherapy.