title: Busting robustness: using cancer's greatest strength to our advantage.
abstract: What do complex networks, such as those found in cancer cells, airplane flight patterns and the Internet have in common? A remarkable robustness with a surprising vulnerability. Complex networks follow remarkably similar patterns across seemingly unconnected fields, and it is possible that cancer researchers could thus learn from the advances in complex network theory. Very limited, yet coordinated, specific targeting of the most critical parts of a network can have dramatically outsized effects. "At times, our strengths propel us so far forward we can no longer endure our weaknesses and perish from them." Nietzsche.
authors.affiliation: 1400 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 0429, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jwestin@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Westin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: cancer; combination therapy; complexity; robustness; scale free networks; small molecule inhibitors; targeted therapy