Slashdot Mirror
Computer Simulation of Cancer Growth
Roland Piquepaille writes "For a long time now, researchers and scientists have used computer simulations in the physical sciences: physics, chemistry, and engineering. But what about biology? An international team of U.S. and Scottish mathematicians and biologists has built a math model to predict tumor behavior. The researchers say their approach is similar to the one used by weather forecasters. So far, this approach is entirely theoretical. But the scientists see their effort as the beginning of a new era in cancer research — 'a sea change in how biology is being done,' as the lead researcher described it. Read more for additional references and illustrations about this use of computer simulation to predict a cancer evolution."
... IF their proposed technique (which has not actually been tested against live cells) comes anywhere near a useful prediction. They haven't even done IN VITRO modeling yet. If this were a product announcement, I'd call it VAPORWARE of the highest order.
Diagnosis is usually the easy part. Prognosis, however, is a little harder to predict. Sure there are usually the benign ones where you have to be very unlucky for it to do any harm (eg basal cell carcinoma). We already have good statistics on the most common cancers with regard to morbidity/mortality with and without treatment. If you have grade 1 endometrial carcinoma, take the uterus out and you're most likely cured. If you have grade 4 astrocytoma, it's basically a death sentence. So I don't think these computer simulations of tumor behavior will really be of much help. Although the article does touch upon microenvironment issues, which sound promising if they can be adequately controlled for those tumors in the middle of the malignancy spectrum.