a computational system and method for simulating biological tissue includes a computer - modeled 3 - dimensional space in which computer - modeled cells are located . the cells may be either healthy or cancerous . as a simulation progresses , the cells may execute a variety of protocols . these include life protocols , such as replication , repair , and apoptosis . they also include signaling protocols , such as a request from a cell to entice defective neighboring cells to die , and an announcement that a cell itself is about to die . the announcement , when received by neighboring cells , tends to entice them also to die . since defective cells tend to cluster together , the combination of the two signals within a tumor has a strong effect on suppressing the tumor . the simulation tracks the progression of cancerous tumors as well as the effectiveness of various treatments . by simulating the behavior of cancerous tissues , the system and method disclosed herein provide a model for understanding cancer , from which potential treatments may be conceived .