The role of cooperation between cancer clones in the progression towards malignancy
by
Erwin P. Lobo
The University of Sydney
Coauthors: J.G.Lyons, M.R.Myerscough

The commonly accepted model of tumour progression consists of cells that acquire genetic mutations, leading to a series of increasingly dominant clones in a process known as lineal evolution. When the dominant clone breaks out of the body’s regulatory networks, it is free to invade surrounding tissue and metastasise.

We consider an alternative model based on interclonal cooperativity, in which sets of clones cooperate to drive the tumour to malignancy. In this model, tumours may consist of co-dominant clones which are individually benign, but cooperate to produce an emergent malignant phenotype.

In our mathematical model, cells are free to roam and interact with each other and with the extracellular matrix. The model used is based on both a cellular automaton approach, as well as a PDE approach. We compare the two pathways to malignancy, providing visually realistic animations, and discuss implications for cancer treatment.

Date received: January 8, 2010