title: Modeling drug resistance in a conjoint normal-tumor setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this paper, we modify our previously developed conjoint tumor-normal cell model in order to make a distinction between tumor cells that are responsive to chemotherapy and those that may show resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using this newly developed core model, the evolution of three cell types: normal, tumor, and drug-resistant tumor cells, is studied through a series of numerical simulations. In addition, we illustrate critical factors that cause different dynamical patterns for normal and tumor cells. Among these factors are the co-dependency of the normal and tumor cells, the cells' response mechanism to a single or multiple chemotherapeutic treatment, the drug administration sequence, and the treatment starting time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide us with a deeper understanding of the possible evolution of normal, drug-responsive, and drug-resistant tumor cells during the cancer progression, which may contribute to improving the therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Seton Hall University, 400 South, Orange, NJ 07079, USA. shojanmi@shu.edu.
authors.forename: Mitra Shojania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Feizabadi
authors.forename: Tarynn M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Witten
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents