An appropriate mathematical model allows questions to be asked and simulations to be carried out thus providing a decision making tool. Current research involves modelling the effect of toxic drugs on cancer tumours and seeking effective treatment strategies. In particular the effect of drug resistance whereby cancer cells mutate in some way and become resistant to the drugs they are being treated with is being investigated. The physical situation is obviously complex but the use of mathematics provides a logical method of investigation. It is hoped to show how mathematical models play a crucial role in this area of cancer research and in particular in attempting to ascertain tumour response to drugs of particular concentrations.
Cancer cells grow outwith the growth regulating system in the body.
Anything that contributes to carcinogenesis can be termed a carcinogen, examples could be smoking, dietary components or exposure to chemicals. There are numerous patterns, ideas and models for the way in which a tumour grows. Two of the most frequently utilised models for tumour growth are exponential growth and gompertz growth. There is experimental evidence that tumours grow exponentially during the initial 'latent' period, subsequently they follow gompertz type kinetics. The models currently being developed incorporate two phase growth.