Delivery optimization of a transarterial ablative therapy

Project Summary This project will address several important open issues related to transient multiphase flow and heat transfer in biological tissues, including formulation of a class of mathematical models that satisfy conservation laws of multi-constituent chemically reacting flow through porous tissue and stable time-stepping schemes for efficient solution to the highly nonlinear and degenerate coupled governing equations. Mathematical models of chemically reacting miscible fluid flow in living porous tissue will include all relevant phenomena: mass-momentum-energy conservation of multiple chemical species, exothermic chemical reactions during delivery and within the tissue, as well as liquid-gas phase changes induced by exothermic acid-base neutralization reactions. To focus math- ematical model developments, research will develop a class of mathematical models toward understanding the fundamental thermal, hypoxic, and pH response of an exciting thermoembolization therapeutic approach for treat- ing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mathematical predictions will be validated in an animal model of HCC. The validated models will be used to optimize delivery protocols. The goal of these mathematical sciences efforts is to provide fundamental understanding of mechanisms that define a successful treatment. Our high-fidelity mathe- matical approach will provide guidance toward the treatment extent that can be achieved for a given combination of patient anatomy, disease extent, chemistry, and injection parameters. Further, the computational methodology is cost effective and helps to reduce and refine animal experiments. A multi-disciplinary team with expertise in imaging physics, mathematical modeling, numerical algorithms, interventional radiology, and biochemistry has been assembled to accomplish project goals.