title: Cancer as a dynamical phase transition.
abstract: This paper discusses the properties of cancer cells from a new perspective based on an analogy with phase transitions in physical systems. Similarities in terms of instabilities and attractor states are outlined and differences discussed. While physical phase transitions typically occur at or near thermodynamic equilibrium, a normal-to-cancer (NTC) transition is a dynamical non-equilibrium phenomenon, which depends on both metabolic energy supply and local physiological conditions. A number of implications for preventative and therapeutic strategies are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1504, USA.
authors.forename: Paul Cw
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Lloyd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demetrius
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tuszynski
mesh_terms: D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D044367:Phase Transition; D013816:Thermodynamics