title: A mathematical model of pre-diagnostic glioma growth.
abstract: Due to their location, the malignant gliomas of the brain in humans are very difficult to treat in advanced stages. Blood-based biomarkers for glioma are needed for more accurate evaluation of treatment response as well as early diagnosis. However, biomarker research in primary brain tumors is challenging given their relative rarity and genetic diversity. It is further complicated by variations in the permeability of the blood brain barrier that affects the amount of marker released into the bloodstream. Inspired by recent temporal data indicating a possible decrease in serum glucose levels in patients with gliomas yet to be diagnosed, we present an ordinary differential equation model to capture early stage glioma growth. The model contains glioma-glucose-immune interactions and poses a potential mechanism by which this glucose drop can be explained. We present numerical simulations, parameter sensitivity analysis, linear stability analysis and a numerical experiment whereby we show how a dormant glioma can become malignant.
authors.affiliation: Mathematical Biosciences Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sturrock
authors.affiliation: Mathematical Biosciences Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Wenrui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartzbaum
authors.affiliation: Mathematical Biosciences Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, OH, USA; Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, OH, USA. Electronic address: rempala.3@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Grzegorz A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rempala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Blood biomarker; Glioma; Glucose; Parameter sensitivity analysis