155 Goessmann Hall
413 577-0137
413 545-1647 (fax)
rvenkata@ecs.umass.edu

Education
B. Tech. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay
M. Tech. Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Bombay

Research overview
Multi-cellular spheroids are useful in vitro models of the
microenvironments present in tumors. Diffusion limitations, present only
in three-dimensional tissue, produce starved regions that eventually
become necrotic in both spheroids and tumors in vivo. Mathematical
models of multi-cellular spheroid growth, have been formulated using
diffusion equations with reaction-convection equations for the expanding
tumor. The diffusion model is combined with partial differential
equations that describe the densities of live cells and dead cells per
unit volume.

Cells in tumors and multi-cellular spheroids oxidize some glucose but
most is converted to lactate. Analysis of tumor interstitial fluid
suggests that the TCA cycle is saturable which explains the high rate of
lactate production. Presently a very simplistic description of the
metabolism containing glucose, lactate and oxygen is included in the
model. The metabolic model, thus, accounts for basic anaerobic and
aerobic metabolism including the consumption of both glucose and oxygen.
The absence of oxygen shifts cellular metabolism from aerobic to
anaerobic and also leads to cell death.

Future plans include addition of a more detailed description of the
cell cycle and metabolism, giving a detailed description of the
interplay of the metabolism and growth.