ABSTRACT:
A simple and fast computational model to describe the dynamics of tumour growth
and metastasis formation is presented. The model is based on the calculation of
successive generations of tumour cells and enables one to describe biologically
important entities like tumour volume, time point of 1st metastatic growth or
number of metastatic colonies at a given time. The model entirely relies on the
chronology of these successive events of the metastatic cascade. The simulation
calculations were performed for two embedded growth models to describe the
Gompertzian like growth behaviour of tumours. The initial training of the
models was carried out using an analytical solution for the size distribution of
metastases of a hepatocellular carcinoma. We then show the applicability of our
models to clinical data from the Munich Cancer Registry. Growth and
dissemination characteristics of metastatic cells originating from cells in the
primary breast cancer can be modelled thus showing its ability to perform
systematic analyses relevant for clinical breast cancer research and treatment.
In particular, our calculations show that generally metastases formation has
already been initiated before the primary can be detected clinically.
Source: A dynamic model for tumour
growth and metastasis formation. Haustein V (vohauste@uke.de), Schumacher U. J Clin Bioinforma. 2012 May 1;2(1):11.
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