An Agent-based Model for Investigating the Effect of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and its Depletion on Tumor Immune Surveillance

BACKGROUND: To predict the behavior of biological systems, mathematical models of biological systems have been shown to be useful. In particular, mathematical models of tumor-immune system interactions have demonstrated promising results in prediction of different behaviors of tumor against the immune system. METHODS: This study aimed at the introduction of a new model of tumor-immune system interaction, which includes tumor and immune cells as well as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs are immune suppressor cells that help the tumor cells to escape the immune system. The structure of this model is agent-based which makes possible to investigate each component as a separate agent. Moreover, in this model, the effect of low dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on MDSCs depletion was considered. RESULTS: Based on the findings of this study, MDSCs had suppressive effect on increment of immune cell number which consequently result in tumor cells escape the immune cells. It has also been demonstrated that low-dose 5-FU could help immune system eliminate the tumor cells through MDSCs depletion. CONCLUSION: Using this new agent-based model, multiple injection of low-dose 5-FU could eliminate MDSCs and therefore might have the potential to be considered in treatment of cancers.