Fig. 14.

A three-stage scenario of tumour growth driven by a switching nutrient supply simulated using the IBCell model. Top row a–c tumour growth in the environment with low supply of nutrients, formation of finger-like cohorts of cells with cell growth restricted only to the tips is a result of cell competition for nutrients. Middle row d–f tumour growth in the environment with high supply of nutrients, tissue re-growth and expansion is an effect of lack of hypoxia, the emergence of a population of quiescent cells is due to cells competition for space only. Bottom row g–i tumour growth in the environment with low supply of nutrients—as in the top row, the formation of finger-like cohorts of cells with cell growth restricted only to the tips is due to cell competition for nutrients. The right column shows corresponding gradients of nutrients. An accompanying simulation movie is available as ESM