an agent‑based model for investigating the effect of myeloid‑derivedsuppressor cells and its depletion on tumor immune surveillance

Background: to predict the behavior of biological systems, mathematical models of biologicalsystems have been shown to be useful. in particular, mathematical models of tumor‑immune systeminteractions have demonstrated promising results in prediction of different behaviors of tumor againstthe immune system. methods: this study aimed at the introduction of a new model of tumor‑immunesystem interaction, which includes tumor and immune cells as well as myeloid‑derived suppressorcells (mdscs). mdscs are immune suppressor cells that help the tumor cells to escape the immunesystem. the structure of this model is agent‑based which makes possible to investigate eachcomponent 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 hadsuppressive effect on increment of immune cell number which consequently result in tumor cellsescape the immune cells. it has also been demonstrated that low‑dose 5‑fu could help immunesystem eliminate the tumor cells through mdscs depletion. conclusion: using this new agent‑basedmodel, multiple injection of low‑dose 5‑fu could eliminate mdscs and therefore might have thepotential to be considered in treatment of cancers.