Scott, J.G., Dhawan, A., Hjelmeland, A. et al. (6 more authors) (2019) Recasting the cancer stem cell hypothesis: Unification using a continuum model of microenvironmental forces. Current Stem Cell Reports, 5 (1). pp. 22-30. ISSN 2198-7866
Abstract
Purpose of review Here, we identify shortcomings of standard compartment-based mathematical models of cancer stem-cells, and propose a continuous formalism which includes the tumor microenvironment.
Recent findings Stem-cell models of tumor growth have provided explanations for various phenomena in oncology including, metastasis, drug- and radio-resistance, and functional heterogeneity in the face of genetic homogeneity. While some of the newer models allow for plasticity, or de-differentiation, there is no consensus on the mechanisms driving this. Recent experimental evidence suggests that tumor microenvironment factors like hypoxia, acidosis, and nutrient deprivation have causative roles.
Summary To settle the dissonance between the mounting experimental evidence surrounding the effects of the microenvironment on tumor stemness, we propose a continuous mathematical model where we model microenvironmental perturbations like forces, which then shape the distribution of stemness within the tumor. We propose methods by which to systematically measure and characterize these forces, and show results of a simple experiment which support our claims.
Metadata
Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Current Stem Cell Reports. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Cancer stem cell hypothesis; Mathematical model; Partial differential equations |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > School of Mathematics and Statistics (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 05 Mar 2019 13:16 |
Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2020 01:38 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-019-0153-0 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Springer Verlag |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40778-019-0153-0 |