Using Web technologies and meta-computing to visualize a simplified simulation model of tumor growth in vitro

Demonstrates the impact that Web technologies and meta-computing can have on the simulation of biological processes such as tumor growth. A client-server architecture allowing real-time surface and volume rendering using a standard Web browser is proposed. A simplified 3D cytokinetic simulation model of tumor growth in vitro is developed, and results are obtained concerning the development of a small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumor spheroid in cell culture. A Gaussian distribution of the cell cycle phase duration is considered. The behavior of the model is compared with both published data and laboratory experience. The application of Web technologies and meta-computing leads to a spectacular 3D visualization of both the external and the internal structure of a growing tumor spheroid.