Fig. 1
Schematic diagram illustrating the interactions among species present in the three compartments. State variables and transport relations are shown in black. Parameters are in red while influence relationships are in blue. Naïve CD8 + T cells (TN) are activated and become CD8 + T effectors (TE1) when they encounter tumor antigen presented by the antigen presenting cells (APC1) in the lymph node. Once activated, effector CD8 + T cells circulate within the blood (TE2) and enter tumor microenvironment (TE3) where they are retained upon recognition of the corresponding tumor-associated antigen. Effector CD8 + T cells secrete Interferon gamma (IFNγ) which assist with the CD8 + T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells (\(C_{\text {MHCI}^{+}}\) and \(C_{\text {MHCI}^{-}}\)) through increased presentation of tumor-associated antigens by Major Histocompatibility Complex protein class I (MHCI). During this process, IL-12 (IL) helps promote T cell proliferation and suppresses regulatory T (TR) cells’ proliferation and immunosuppressive action on effector CD8 + T cells. In addition, the chemotherapy drug Oxaliplatin in the lymph node and tumor (OXPi where i=1,3) will kill fast-proliferating cells such as T effectors and tumor cells