In order to determine the role of micromilieu in tumour spheroid growth, a mathematical model was developed to predict EMT6/Ro spheroid growth and microenvironment based upon numerical solution of the diffusion/reaction equation for oxygen, glucose, lactate ion, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate ion, chlorine ion and hydrogen ion along with the equation of electroneutrality. This model takes into account the effects of oxygen concentration, glucose concentration and extracellular pH on cell growth and metabolism. Since independent measurements of EMT6/Ro single cell growth and metabolic rates, spheroid diffusion constants, and spinner flask mass transfer coefficients are available, model predictions using these parameters were compared with published data on EMT6/Ro spheroid growth and microenvironment. The model predictions of reduced spheroid growth due to reduced cell growth rates and cell shedding fit experimental spheroid growth data below 700-mu-m, but overestimated the spheroid growth rate at larger diameters. Predicted viable rim thicknesses based on predicted near zero glucose concentrations fit published viable rim thickness data for 1000-mu-m spheroids grown at medium glucose concentrations of 5.5 mM or less. However, the model did not accurately predict the onset of necrosis. Moreover, the model could not predict the observed decreases in oxygen and glucose metabolism seen in spheroids with time, nor could it predict the observed growth plateau. This suggests that other unknown factors, such as inhibitors or cell-cell contact effects, must also be important in affecting spheroid growth and cellular metabolism.
