Special Session 135: Dynamical Systems in Mathematical Biology: Epidemiology, Population Dynamics, and Reaction Networks

Allee-Driven Thresholds and Bifurcation Structure in Cancer Immunoediting.
Eymard Hernandez-Lopez
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
USA
Co-Author(s):    
Abstract:
This work explores a mathematical model of tumor-immune interactions that incorporates Allee effects to capture the nuances of cooperative tumor growth. Through bifurcation analysis and numerical continuation, we identify and characterize saddle-node, Hopf, Bautin, and Bogdanov-Takens bifurcations, further establishing a formal proof of a codimension-three bifurcation within a biologically relevant parameter space. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the critical transitions between the elimination, equilibrium, and escape phases of cancer immunoediting, highlighting the underlying mechanisms that drive clinical outcomes.