Mathematical models of cancer stem cells.
Human cancers are thought to be sustained in their growth by a pathologic counterpart of normal adult stem cells: cancer stem cells. This concept was first developed in human myeloid leukemias and is today being extended to solid tumors such as breast and brain cancers. A quantitative understanding of cancer stem cells requires a mathematical framework to describe the dynamics of cancer initiation and progression, the response to treatment, and the evolution of resistance. In this review, I use chronic myeloid leukemia as an example to discuss how mathematical and computational techniques have been used to gain insights into the biology of cancer stem cells.
Michor
Franziska
F
Computational Biology Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 417 East 68th St, New York, NY 10065, USA. michorf@mskcc.org
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015973:Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate