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Graeme Wake
Centre for Mathematics in Industry, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Modelling of cancer treatment
Wednesday 30th, June 14:05-15:55pm,
Carslaw Building Room 173.
Improved treatment of cancer is one of the most important challenges
to medical science. Tailoring treatment for individual patients has
long been an objective for oncologists. While many biological
techniques and mathematical models have been devised to predict the
course of treatment, none have been applied routinely to clinical
oncology. Our model, which describes the complexities of the responses
of tumour cells over time to both anticancer drugs and radiation, has
considerable impact on our ability to advance individualisation of
cancer therapy. This process is in advanced stages of
implementation. Over the last two years, we have developed
sophisticated mathematical equations describing the behaviour of
cancer cells as they progress through the cell division cycle. Which
stage in the cycle the cells are actually in, can be differentiated by
their DNA content and this enables model outcomes to be compared
directly to experimental results. These equations describe the
response of human tumours to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Firstly
we incorporate programmed cell death (apoptosis) into the model. We
then consider perturbations of model parameters by treatment, and
compare model results with data. This research will provide
significant new analytical and computational insights into the area of
non-local equations, where cause and effect are separated in "space"
and time, as well underpinning support to oncologists concerned with
treatment, drug companies producing drugs, and management of clinics.
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