Added cleanup method to remove cells from attackers pAttackTarget pointer

Author: vincent-noel

core/PhysiCell_cell.cpp

@@ -1207,6 +1207,9 @@ void delete_cell( int index )
 	// released internalized substrates (as of 1.5.x releases)
 	pDeleteMe->release_internalized_substrates(); 
 
+	// new Dec 2, 2025
+	pDeleteMe->remove_self_from_attackers(); 
+	
 	// performance goal: don't delete in the middle -- very expensive reallocation
 	// alternative: copy last element to index position, then shrink vector by 1 at the end O(constant)
 
@@ -3433,6 +3436,16 @@ void Cell::remove_all_spring_attachments( void )
 	return; 
 }
 
+void Cell::remove_self_from_attackers( void )
+{
+	#pragma omp parallel for
+	for (int j=0; j < all_cells->size(); j++) 
+	{
+		if (j != index && (*all_cells)[j]->phenotype.cell_interactions.pAttackTarget != NULL && (*all_cells)[j]->phenotype.cell_interactions.pAttackTarget == this) {
+			(*all_cells)[j]->phenotype.cell_interactions.pAttackTarget = NULL;
+		}
+	}
+}
 
 void attach_cells( Cell* pCell_1, Cell* pCell_2 )
 {

core/PhysiCell_cell.h

@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@ class Cell : public Basic_Agent
 	void attach_cell_as_spring( Cell* pAddMe ); // done 
 	void detach_cell_as_spring( Cell* pRemoveMe ); // done 
 	void remove_all_spring_attachments( void ); // done 
+	void remove_self_from_attackers( void ); 
 
 	// I want to eventually deprecate this, by ensuring that 
 	// critical BioFVM and PhysiCell data elements are synced when they are needed