New concepts in breast cancer emerge from analyzing clinical data using numerical algorithms.
A small international group has recently challenged fundamental concepts in breast cancer. As a guiding principle in therapy, it has long been assumed that breast cancer growth is continuous. However, this group suggests tumor growth commonly includes extended periods of quasi-stable dormancy. Furthermore, surgery to remove the primary tumor often awakens distant dormant micrometastases. Accordingly, over half of all relapses in breast cancer are accelerated in this manner. This paper describes how a numerical algorithm was used to come to these conclusions. Based on these findings, a dormancy preservation therapy is proposed.
Retsky
Michael
M
Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Karp Family Laboratories, Boston, MA 02115, USA. michael.retsky@childrens.harvard.edu
D000465:Algorithms; D035843:Biomedical Research; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012008:Recurrence