Radially symmetric growth of nonnecrotic tumors (Q2268881)

The authors consider a two-dimensional system describing the growth of a tumor and evolution of cells. The mathematical model for the rate \(\psi\) and for the pressure \(p\) reads \[ \begin{cases} \Delta\psi=f(\psi), &\text{in }\,\Omega(t),\;t\geq 0,\\ \Delta p=f(\psi), &\text{in }\,\Omega(t),\;t\geq 0,\\ \psi=1, &\text{on }\,\partial\Omega(t),\;t\geq 0,\\ p=\kappa-AG\,\frac{(x,x)}{4}, &\text{on }\,\partial\Omega(t),\;t\geq 0,\\ G\frac{\partial\psi}{\partial n}-\frac{\partial p}{\partial n}-AG\,\frac{(n,x)}{2}=V(t) &\text{on }\,\partial\Omega(t),\;t\geq 0,\\ \Omega(0)=\Omega_0, \end{cases} \] where \(\Omega_0\) is the initial state of the tumor, \(V\) is the normal velocity of the tumor boundary, and the constants \(A\) and \(G\) have biological meaning. The nonlinearity \(f\) satisfies \[ f(0)=0\;\text{ and }\;f'(\psi)>0\text{ for }\,\psi\geq0. \] When \(\Omega(t)\) is a disc, the authors look for radial functions, solutions of a system of decoupled second-order ordinary differential equations. Under a condition on \(AG,\) the existence and uniqueness of radially symmetric stationary solutions is obtained. The proofs employ shooting methods. The asymptotic behaviour is also discussed in relation to the parameters characterizing cell proliferation and cell death.