Kinetics of the formation of cancer metastases via induced premetastatic cancer-stem-cell niches.
The author presents a kinetic model describing the formation of new metastases by cancer stem cells in premetastatic stem-cell niches induced by the factors produced by a primary tumor and already formed metastases. The corresponding kinetics is analyzed by employing mean-field kinetic equations and Monte Carlo simulations. In agreement with observations, the model predicts a long latent period with low rate of the metastase growth followed by explosive increase in the number of metastases. The duration of the latent period is found to depend on a multitude of rate constants characterizing various processes.
Zhdanov
Vladimir P
VP
Department of Applied Physics, Division of Biological Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, S-41296 Göteborg, Sweden. zhdanov@catalysis.ru
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*