Modeling the Effects of a Simple Immune System and Immunodeficiency on the Dynamics of Conjointly Growing Tumor and Normal Cells

<p>In this paper, we develop a theoretical contribution towards the understanding of the complex behavior of conjoint tumor-normal cell growth under the influence of immuno-chemotheraputic agents under simple immune system response. In particular, we consider a core model for the interaction o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mitra Shojania Feizabadi, Tarynn M. Witten
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ivyspring International Publisher 2011-01-01
Series:International Journal of Biological Sciences
Online Access:http://www.biolsci.org/v07p0700.htm
Description
Summary:<p>In this paper, we develop a theoretical contribution towards the understanding of the complex behavior of conjoint tumor-normal cell growth under the influence of immuno-chemotheraputic agents under simple immune system response. In particular, we consider a core model for the interaction of tumor cells with the surrounding normal cells. We then add the effects of a simple immune system, and both immune-suppression factors and immuno-chemotherapeutic agents as well. Through a series of numerical simulations, we illustrate that the interdependency of tumor-normal cells, together with choice of drug and the nature of the immunodeficiency, leads to a variety of interesting patterns in the evolution of both the tumor and the normal cell populations.</p>
ISSN:1449-2288