COMPLAS 2025

A diffusion-driven growth model using a phase-field approach for simulation of brain tumor

  • Soleimani, Meisam (Institut für Kontinuumsmechanik)
  • Esmaeilzadeh, Majid (Department of Neurosurgery, Bethel Clinic)
  • Junker, Philipp (Institut für Kontinuumsmechanik)

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Glioma (brain tumor) modeling is a critical research area due to the tumor’s aggressive nature and poor prognosis. Phase-field modeling offers an effective computational framework for simulating tumor dynamics, capturing complex biological phenomena such as cell migration, proliferation, and interactions with the surrounding environment. In this study, we investigate tumor growth near a blood artery that supplies nutrients to the tumor. A diffusion-driven phase-field approach is coupled with mechanical deformation to develop a continuum-based macroscopic model, covering tumor sizes ranging from millimeters to centimeters. The model describes tumor expansion driven by nutrient gradients, reflecting its proximity to the artery. A multiphysics framework is employed, integrating nutrient diffusion, tumor growth, and mechanical deformation to explore how the tumor influences surrounding tissues. Specifically, we analyze how physical compression displaces or deforms adjacent neurons, glial cells, and vasculature. The numerical implementation is performed within a finite element (FEM) framework, utilizing a custom user-element in FORTRAN, integrated with the ANSYS solver. Several numerical simulations demonstrate the model’s applicability, particularly in clinical settings. The results are qualitatively compared with clinical observations, highlighting the potential of the proposed approach in understanding glioma progression and its biomechanical impact.