Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 26: Multi-cellular systems and Physics of Cancer

BP 26.7: Talk

Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 13:15–13:30, ZEU 250

Computer Simulation of the Metastatic Progression and Treatment Interventions — •Anja Bethge¹, Udo Schumacher², and Gero Wedemann¹ — ¹CC Bioinformatics, University of Applied Sciences Stralsund, Germany — ²Institute for Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

The process of metastasis formation is still subject of discussion and even established models differ considerably in several basic details and conclusions drawn from them. A computer model was developed which permits comparison of different models quantitatively with clinical data and which additionally predicts the outcome of treatment interventions. It is based on a discrete event simulation protocol. The growth of the primary tumour is described via analytical functions, while a rate function models the intravasation events of the primary tumour and its metastases. Events describe the behaviour of the emitted malignant cells until the formation of new metastases. Using the computer model we investigated different questions: Are metastases able to metastasize? Is metastasis an early or a late event? Do metastases undergo a dormancy phase before they start to grow out into a macro metastasis? (Bethge et al. PLoS ONE 7(4): e35689, 2012) We studied the effects of different treatments, such as the resection of the primary tumour, radionuclide therapy, radioembolization and chemotherapy in the model.