The interplay between cell adhesion and environment rigidity in the morphology of tumors

We present a two-dimensional model for tumor growth and morphology. The model contemplates, among other biological processes, cellular adhesion and the rigidity of the tissue embedding a tumor. We find that for some values of adhesion and rigidity, these tumors are fractals with dimensions between 1.5 and 2. We conclude that changes in cell adhesion and environment rigidity can explain boundary roughening and formation of protuberances typical of some malignant tumors.