Network characteristics and sensitivity parameters for simulated normal and tumor modes of vascular adaptation.

<p><i>Top panel:</i> Dependence of oxygen deficit and diameter mismatch on assumed adaptation mode. Filled triangles: results for experimentally measured vessel diameters for tumor network (red) and mesenteric networks (blue, mean with standard deviation). Open symbols: predicted results using vessel diameters obtained with normal, tumor or deterministic adaptation models for the tumor network (red squares) and for mesenteric networks (blue circles). When the tumor network is subjected to normal adaptation (red arrow), the resulting characteristics are close to those of mesentery networks with measured diameters. Conversely, when the mesentery networks are subject to tumor adaptation (blue arrow), they achieve tumor-like characteristics. If deterministic adaptation is assumed, low values for O_2def and d³_var are obtained which do not differ significantly for tumor and mesenteric networks. <i>Lower panels:</i> Sensitivity parameters for simulated diameter adaptation of mesenteric networks. Predicted parameter values for the optimization to characteristic network properties (O_2def, d³_var, V_tot, ΔP) as obtained with measured vessel diameters for the mesenteric networks (‘normal adaptation’, left) are compared to those obtained for tumor networks (‘tumor adaptation’, right). Mean data for three networks are shown with standard deviations. Significant differences are found for Ran-k_s, k_c, and k_s but not for k_h.