{
  "id": 14284531,
  "title": "A mathematical model of tumor growth driven by oxygen lactate exosome feedback",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/a-mathematical-model-of-tumor-growth-driven-by-oxygen-lactate-exosome",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-13T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.10.758176v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A mathematical model has been developed to investigate the impact of a feedback loop involving oxygen, lactate, and tumor-derived exosomes on tumor growth. Solid tumors form within a heterogeneous microenvironment, with oxygen levels decreasing from the tumor's periphery towards its core, creating hypoxic regions. Hypoxia leads to a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, resulting in increased lactate production. This lactate then promotes the secretion of exosomes from the tumor, which in turn contains proteins, mRNA, and lipids that stimulate tumor cell proliferation, forming a feedback loop. Researchers have not yet systematically explored the effect of this oxygen, lactate, and exosome axis on tumor growth dynamics using a mathematical approach. The study's authors constructed a mechanistic mathematical model to explore the impact of this feedback mechanism on tumor growth. Initially, they considered an in vitro setting where oxygen levels varied periodically in time between normoxic and hypoxic states, reflecting cyclic hypoxia observed in vivo. The simulations showed that the exosome-mediated feedback had a significant effect on tumor volume under chronic hypoxia. Moreover, they found that as the period of cyclic hypoxia increased, the tumor volume decreased. The researchers then extended their model to an in vivo framework by incorporating oxygen diffusion and consumption, allowing for the emergence of spatial heterogeneity. The simulations revealed that tumor cells in normoxic regions benefited indirectly from enhanced exosome secretion driven by lactate produced in hypoxic regions. The results demonstrate how spatially mediated metabolic signaling can amplify tumor growth and aggressiveness, highlighting the importance of mathematical modeling in understanding nonlocal feedback mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment.",
  "summary": "Solid tumors develop within a heterogeneous microenvironment shaped by coupled biochemical and metabolic processes. As a tumor grows, oxygen gradients develop from the periphery towards the core, giving rise to hypoxic regions. Hypoxia induces a metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, leading to elevated lactate production. Experimental studies further indicate that…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}