Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. One of the main treatment options for liver cancer is a partial hepatectomy (PH), which is removal of two-thirds of the liver. However, some cancer may remain after PH. As the liver regenerates, it competes with the remaining cancerous cells for resources and survival.

Recent medical research suggests that hyperactivation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) may help curb the growth of tumors in the liver. So in our research, we explore the resource competition between healthy and cancerous cells after PH: both with and without hyperactivation of YAP. We use mathematical modeling (primarily ordinary differential equations) to describe the dynamics in both populations over time.