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Ma C, Gurkan-Cavusoglu E. A comprehensive review of computational cell cycle models in guiding cancer treatment strategies. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2024; 10:71. [PMID: 38969664 PMCID: PMC11226463 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-024-00397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
This article reviews the current knowledge and recent advancements in computational modeling of the cell cycle. It offers a comparative analysis of various modeling paradigms, highlighting their unique strengths, limitations, and applications. Specifically, the article compares deterministic and stochastic models, single-cell versus population models, and mechanistic versus abstract models. This detailed analysis helps determine the most suitable modeling framework for various research needs. Additionally, the discussion extends to the utilization of these computational models to illuminate cell cycle dynamics, with a particular focus on cell cycle viability, crosstalk with signaling pathways, tumor microenvironment, DNA replication, and repair mechanisms, underscoring their critical roles in tumor progression and the optimization of cancer therapies. By applying these models to crucial aspects of cancer therapy planning for better outcomes, including drug efficacy quantification, drug discovery, drug resistance analysis, and dose optimization, the review highlights the significant potential of computational insights in enhancing the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments. This emphasis on the intricate relationship between computational modeling and therapeutic strategy development underscores the pivotal role of advanced modeling techniques in navigating the complexities of cell cycle dynamics and their implications for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhui Ma
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Evren Gurkan-Cavusoglu
- Department of Electrical, Computer and Systems Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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2
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Stephan S, Galland S, Labbani Narsis O, Shoji K, Vachenc S, Gerart S, Nicolle C. Agent-based approaches for biological modeling in oncology: A literature review. Artif Intell Med 2024; 152:102884. [PMID: 38703466 DOI: 10.1016/j.artmed.2024.102884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Computational modeling involves the use of computer simulations and models to study and understand real-world phenomena. Its application is particularly relevant in the study of potential interactions between biological elements. It is a promising approach to understand complex biological processes and predict their behavior under various conditions. METHODOLOGY This paper is a review of the recent literature on computational modeling of biological systems. Our study focuses on the field of oncology and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and, in particular, agent-based modeling (ABM), between 2010 and May 2023. RESULTS Most of the articles studied focus on improving the diagnosis and understanding the behaviors of biological entities, with metaheuristic algorithms being the models most used. Several challenges are highlighted regarding increasing and structuring knowledge about biological systems, developing holistic models that capture multiple scales and levels of organization, reproducing emergent behaviors of biological systems, validating models with experimental data, improving computational performance of models and algorithms, and ensuring privacy and personal data protection are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Stephan
- UTBM, CIAD UMR 7533, Belfort, F-90010, France; Université de Bourgogne, CIAD UMR 7533, Dijon, F-21000, France.
| | | | | | - Kenji Shoji
- Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM), 18 Rue Jean Mazen, Dijon, F-21000, France
| | - Sébastien Vachenc
- Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM), 18 Rue Jean Mazen, Dijon, F-21000, France
| | - Stéphane Gerart
- Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM), 18 Rue Jean Mazen, Dijon, F-21000, France
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3
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Dogra P, Ramírez JR, Butner JD, Peláez MJ, Chung C, Hooda-Nehra A, Pasqualini R, Arap W, Cristini V, Calin GA, Ozpolat B, Wang Z. Translational Modeling Identifies Synergy between Nanoparticle-Delivered miRNA-22 and Standard-of-Care Drugs in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Pharm Res 2022; 39:511-528. [PMID: 35294699 PMCID: PMC8986735 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-022-03176-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Downregulation of miRNA-22 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with upregulation of eukaryotic elongation 2 factor kinase (eEF2K) protein, which regulates tumor growth, chemoresistance, and tumor immunosurveillance. Moreover, exogenous administration of miRNA-22, loaded in nanoparticles to prevent degradation and improve tumor delivery (termed miRNA-22 nanotherapy), to suppress eEF2K production has shown potential as an investigational therapeutic agent in vivo. Methods To evaluate the translational potential of miRNA-22 nanotherapy, we developed a multiscale mechanistic model, calibrated to published in vivo data and extrapolated to the human scale, to describe and quantify the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of miRNA-22 in virtual patient populations. Results Our analysis revealed the dose-response relationship, suggested optimal treatment frequency for miRNA-22 nanotherapy, and highlighted key determinants of therapy response, from which combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors was identified as a candidate strategy for improving treatment outcomes. More importantly, drug synergy was identified between miRNA-22 and standard-of-care drugs against TNBC, providing a basis for rational therapeutic combinations for improved response Conclusions The present study highlights the translational potential of miRNA-22 nanotherapy for TNBC in combination with standard-of-care drugs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11095-022-03176-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Dogra
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - Javier Ruiz Ramírez
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Joseph D Butner
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Maria J Peláez
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Caroline Chung
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Anupama Hooda-Nehra
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, 07101, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, 07103, USA
| | - Renata Pasqualini
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, 07101, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division of Cancer Biology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, 07103, USA
| | - Wadih Arap
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, 07101, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, 07103, USA
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77230, USA
- Physiology, Biophysics, and Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, 10065, USA
| | - George A Calin
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas, 77030, USA.
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, 10065, USA.
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Gondal MN, Chaudhary SU. Navigating Multi-Scale Cancer Systems Biology Towards Model-Driven Clinical Oncology and Its Applications in Personalized Therapeutics. Front Oncol 2021; 11:712505. [PMID: 34900668 PMCID: PMC8652070 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.712505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid advancements in high-throughput omics technologies and experimental protocols have led to the generation of vast amounts of scale-specific biomolecular data on cancer that now populates several online databases and resources. Cancer systems biology models built using this data have the potential to provide specific insights into complex multifactorial aberrations underpinning tumor initiation, development, and metastasis. Furthermore, the annotation of these single- and multi-scale models with patient data can additionally assist in designing personalized therapeutic interventions as well as aid in clinical decision-making. Here, we have systematically reviewed the emergence and evolution of (i) repositories with scale-specific and multi-scale biomolecular cancer data, (ii) systems biology models developed using this data, (iii) associated simulation software for the development of personalized cancer therapeutics, and (iv) translational attempts to pipeline multi-scale panomics data for data-driven in silico clinical oncology. The review concludes that the absence of a generic, zero-code, panomics-based multi-scale modeling pipeline and associated software framework, impedes the development and seamless deployment of personalized in silico multi-scale models in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnoor Naseer Gondal
- Biomedical Informatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Safee Ullah Chaudhary
- Biomedical Informatics Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Syed Babar Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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Butner JD, Fuentes D, Ozpolat B, Calin GA, Zhou X, Lowengrub J, Cristini V, Wang Z. A Multiscale Agent-Based Model of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2020; 67:1450-1461. [PMID: 31603768 PMCID: PMC8445608 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2019.2938485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE we present a multiscale agent-based model of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) in order to gain a detailed understanding of the cell-scale population dynamics, phenotypic distributions, and the associated interplay of important molecular signaling pathways that are involved in DCIS ductal invasion into the duct cavity (a process we refer to as duct advance rate here). METHODS DCIS is modeled mathematically through a hybridized discrete cell-scale model and a continuum molecular scale model, which are explicitly linked through a bidirectional feedback mechanism. RESULTS we find that duct advance rates occur in two distinct phases, characterized by an early exponential population expansion, followed by a long-term steady linear phase of population expansion, a result that is consistent with other modeling work. We further found that the rates were influenced most strongly by endocrine and paracrine signaling intensity, as well as by the effects of cell density induced quiescence within the DCIS population. CONCLUSION our model analysis identified a complex interplay between phenotypic diversity that may provide a tumor adaptation mechanism to overcome proliferation limiting conditions, allowing for dynamic shifts in phenotypic populations in response to variation in molecular signaling intensity. Further, sensitivity analysis determined DCIS axial advance rates and calcification rates were most sensitive to cell cycle time variation. SIGNIFICANCE this model may serve as a useful tool to study the cell-scale dynamics involved in DCIS initiation and intraductal invasion, and may provide insights into promising areas of future experimental research.
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Wang Z, Deisboeck TS. Dynamic Targeting in Cancer Treatment. Front Physiol 2019; 10:96. [PMID: 30890944 PMCID: PMC6413712 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of personalized medicine, design and development of anti-cancer drugs that are specifically targeted to individual or sets of genes or proteins has been an active research area in both academia and industry. The underlying motivation for this approach is to interfere with several pathological crosstalk pathways in order to inhibit or at the very least control the proliferation of cancer cells. However, after initially conferring beneficial effects, if sub-lethal, these artificial perturbations in cell function pathways can inadvertently activate drug-induced up- and down-regulation of feedback loops, resulting in dynamic changes over time in the molecular network structure and potentially causing drug resistance as seen in clinics. Hence, the targets or their combined signatures should also change in accordance with the evolution of the network (reflected by changes to the structure and/or functional output of the network) over the course of treatment. This suggests the need for a "dynamic targeting" strategy aimed at optimizing tumor control by interfering with different molecular targets, at varying stages. Understanding the dynamic changes of this complex network under various perturbed conditions due to drug treatment is extremely challenging under experimental conditions let alone in clinical settings. However, mathematical modeling can facilitate studying these effects at the network level and beyond, and also accelerate comparison of the impact of different dosage regimens and therapeutic modalities prior to sizeable investment in risky and expensive clinical trials. A dynamic targeting strategy based on the use of mathematical modeling can be a new, exciting research avenue in the discovery and development of therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Mathematics in Medicine Program, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Thomas S Deisboeck
- Department of Radiology, Harvard-MIT (HST) Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
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Deng J, Jhandey A, Zhu X, Yang Z, Yik KFP, Zuo Z, Lam TN. In silico drug absorption tract: An agent-based biomimetic model for human oral drug absorption. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203361. [PMID: 30169515 PMCID: PMC6118387 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background An agent-based modeling approach has been suggested as an alternative to traditional, equation-based modeling methods for describing oral drug absorption. It enables researchers to gain a better understanding of the pharmacokinetic (PK) mechanisms of a drug. This project demonstrates that a biomimetic agent-based model can adequately describe the absorption and disposition kinetics both of midazolam and clonazepam. Methods An agent-based biomimetic model, in silico drug absorption tract (ISDAT), was built to mimic oral drug absorption in humans. The model consisted of distinct spaces, membranes, and metabolic enzymes, and it was altogether representative of human physiology relating to oral drug absorption. Simulated experiments were run with the model, and the results were compared to the referent data from clinical equivalence trials. Acceptable similarity was verified by pre-specified criteria, which included 1) qualitative visual matching between the clinical and simulated concentration-time profiles, 2) quantitative similarity indices, namely, weighted root mean squared error (RMSE), and weighted mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and 3) descriptive similarity which requires less than 25% difference between key PK parameters calculated by the clinical and the simulated concentration-time profiles. The model and its parameters were iteratively refined until all similarity criteria were met. Furthermore, simulated PK experiments were conducted to predict bioavailability (F). For better visualization, a graphical user interface for the model was developed and a video is available in Supporting Information. Results Simulation results satisfied all three levels of similarity criteria for both drugs. The weighted RMSE was 0.51 and 0.92, and the weighted MAPE was 5.99% and 8.43% for midazolam and clonazepam, respectively. Calculated PK parameter values, including area under the curve (AUC), peak plasma drug concentration (Cmax), time to reach Cmax (Tmax), terminal elimination rate constant (Kel), terminal elimination half life (T1/2), apparent oral clearance (CL/F), and apparent volume of distribution (V/F), were reasonable compared to the referent values. The predicted absolute oral bioavailability (F) was 44% for midazolam (literature reported value, 31–72%) and 93% (literature reported value, ≥ 90%) for clonazepam. Conclusion The ISDAT met all the pre-specified similarity criteria for both midazolam and clonazepam, and demonstrated its ability to describe absorption kinetics of both drugs. Therefore, the validated ISDAT can be a promising platform for further research into the use of similar in silico models for drug absorption kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyuan Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Anika Jhandey
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhibo Yang
- Department of Computer Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States of America
| | - Kin Fu Patrick Yik
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Zhong Zuo
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tai Ning Lam
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- * E-mail:
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Li XL, Oduola WO, Qian L, Dougherty ER. Integrating Multiscale Modeling with Drug Effects for Cancer Treatment. Cancer Inform 2016; 14:21-31. [PMID: 26792977 PMCID: PMC4712979 DOI: 10.4137/cin.s30797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we review multiscale modeling for cancer treatment with the incorporation of drug effects from an applied system's pharmacology perspective. Both the classical pharmacology and systems biology are inherently quantitative; however, systems biology focuses more on networks and multi factorial controls over biological processes rather than on drugs and targets in isolation, whereas systems pharmacology has a strong focus on studying drugs with regard to the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) relations accompanying drug interactions with multiscale physiology as well as the prediction of dosage-exposure responses and economic potentials of drugs. Thus, it requires multiscale methods to address the need for integrating models from the molecular levels to the cellular, tissue, and organism levels. It is a common belief that tumorigenesis and tumor growth can be best understood and tackled by employing and integrating a multifaceted approach that includes in vivo and in vitro experiments, in silico models, multiscale tumor modeling, continuous/discrete modeling, agent-based modeling, and multiscale modeling with PK/PD drug effect inputs. We provide an example application of multiscale modeling employing stochastic hybrid system for a colon cancer cell line HCT-116 with the application of Lapatinib drug. It is observed that the simulation results are similar to those observed from the setup of the wet-lab experiments at the Translational Genomics Research Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangfang L. Li
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
| | - Wasiu O. Oduola
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
| | - Lijun Qian
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, USA
| | - Edward R. Dougherty
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Wang Z, Deisboeck TS, Cristini V. Development of a sampling-based global sensitivity analysis workflow for multiscale computational cancer models. IET Syst Biol 2015; 8:191-7. [PMID: 25257020 DOI: 10.1049/iet-syb.2013.0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There are two challenges that researchers face when performing global sensitivity analysis (GSA) on multiscale 'in silico' cancer models. The first is increased computational intensity, since a multiscale cancer model generally takes longer to run than does a scale-specific model. The second problem is the lack of a best GSA method that fits all types of models, which implies that multiple methods and their sequence need to be taken into account. In this study, the authors therefore propose a sampling-based GSA workflow consisting of three phases - pre-analysis, analysis and post-analysis - by integrating Monte Carlo and resampling methods with the repeated use of analysis of variance; they then exemplify this workflow using a two-dimensional multiscale lung cancer model. By accounting for all parameter rankings produced by multiple GSA methods, a summarised ranking is created at the end of the workflow based on the weighted mean of the rankings for each input parameter. For the cancer model investigated here, this analysis reveals that extracellular signal-regulated kinase, a downstream molecule of the epidermal growth factor receptor signalling pathway, has the most important impact on regulating both the tumour volume and expansion rate in the algorithm used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Thomas S Deisboeck
- Department of Radiology, Harvard-MIT (HST) Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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Cilfone NA, Kirschner DE, Linderman JJ. Strategies for efficient numerical implementation of hybrid multi-scale agent-based models to describe biological systems. Cell Mol Bioeng 2015; 8:119-136. [PMID: 26366228 PMCID: PMC4564133 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-014-0363-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biologically related processes operate across multiple spatiotemporal scales. For computational modeling methodologies to mimic this biological complexity, individual scale models must be linked in ways that allow for dynamic exchange of information across scales. A powerful methodology is to combine a discrete modeling approach, agent-based models (ABMs), with continuum models to form hybrid models. Hybrid multi-scale ABMs have been used to simulate emergent responses of biological systems. Here, we review two aspects of hybrid multi-scale ABMs: linking individual scale models and efficiently solving the resulting model. We discuss the computational choices associated with aspects of linking individual scale models while simultaneously maintaining model tractability. We demonstrate implementations of existing numerical methods in the context of hybrid multi-scale ABMs. Using an example model describing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, we show relative computational speeds of various combinations of numerical methods. Efficient linking and solution of hybrid multi-scale ABMs is key to model portability, modularity, and their use in understanding biological phenomena at a systems level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Cilfone
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Denise E. Kirschner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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11
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Wang Z, Butner JD, Cristini V, Deisboeck TS. Integrated PK-PD and agent-based modeling in oncology. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 2015; 42:179-89. [PMID: 25588379 DOI: 10.1007/s10928-015-9403-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical modeling has become a valuable tool that strives to complement conventional biomedical research modalities in order to predict experimental outcome, generate new medical hypotheses, and optimize clinical therapies. Two specific approaches, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling, and agent-based modeling (ABM), have been widely applied in cancer research. While they have made important contributions on their own (e.g., PK-PD in examining chemotherapy drug efficacy and resistance, and ABM in describing and predicting tumor growth and metastasis), only a few groups have started to combine both approaches together in an effort to gain more insights into the details of drug dynamics and the resulting impact on tumor growth. In this review, we focus our discussion on some of the most recent modeling studies building on a combined PK-PD and ABM approach that have generated experimentally testable hypotheses. Some future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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Finley SD, Chu LH, Popel AS. Computational systems biology approaches to anti-angiogenic cancer therapeutics. Drug Discov Today 2014; 20:187-97. [PMID: 25286370 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2014.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/29/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is an exquisitely regulated process that is required for physiological processes and is also important in numerous diseases. Tumors utilize angiogenesis to generate the vascular network needed to supply the cancer cells with nutrients and oxygen, and many cancer drugs aim to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenic therapy involves inhibiting multiple cell types, molecular targets, and intracellular signaling pathways. Computational tools are useful in guiding treatment strategies, predicting the response to treatment, and identifying new targets of interest. Here, we describe progress that has been made in applying mathematical modeling and bioinformatics approaches to study anti-angiogenic therapeutics in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey D Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Liang-Hui Chu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aleksander S Popel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Identification of crucial parameters in a mathematical multiscale model of glioblastoma growth. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2014; 2014:437094. [PMID: 24899919 PMCID: PMC4034489 DOI: 10.1155/2014/437094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastomas are highly malignant brain tumours. Mathematical models and their analysis
provide a tool to support the understanding of the development of these tumours as well as
the design of more effective treatment strategies. We have previously developed a multiscale
model of glioblastoma progression that covers processes on the cellular and molecular scale.
Here, we present a novel nutrient-dependent multiscale sensitivity analysis of this model
that helps to identify those reaction parameters of the molecular interaction network that influence
the tumour progression on the cellular scale the most. In particular, those parameters
are identified that essentially determine tumour expansion and could be therefore used as potential
therapy targets. As indicators for the success of a potential therapy target, a deceleration
of the tumour expansion and a reduction of the tumour volume are employed.
From the results, it can be concluded that no single parameter variation results in a less
aggressive tumour. However, it can be shown that a few combined perturbations of two
systematically selected parameters cause a slow-down of the tumour expansion velocity accompanied
with a decrease of the tumour volume. Those parameters are primarily linked to
the reactions that involve the microRNA-451 and the thereof regulated protein MO25.
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14
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Wang Z, Butner JD, Kerketta R, Cristini V, Deisboeck TS. Simulating cancer growth with multiscale agent-based modeling. Semin Cancer Biol 2014; 30:70-8. [PMID: 24793698 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Revised: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
There have been many techniques developed in recent years to in silico model a variety of cancer behaviors. Agent-based modeling is a specific discrete-based hybrid modeling approach that allows simulating the role of diversity in cell populations as well as within each individual cell; it has therefore become a powerful modeling method widely used by computational cancer researchers. Many aspects of tumor morphology including phenotype-changing mutations, the adaptation to microenvironment, the process of angiogenesis, the influence of extracellular matrix, reactions to chemotherapy or surgical intervention, the effects of oxygen and nutrient availability, and metastasis and invasion of healthy tissues have been incorporated and investigated in agent-based models. In this review, we introduce some of the most recent agent-based models that have provided insight into the understanding of cancer growth and invasion, spanning multiple biological scales in time and space, and we further describe several experimentally testable hypotheses generated by those models. We also discuss some of the current challenges of multiscale agent-based cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
| | - Joseph D Butner
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Romica Kerketta
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering and Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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15
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Wang Z, Deisboeck TS. Mathematical modeling in cancer drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2013; 19:145-50. [PMID: 23831857 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Revised: 06/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mathematical models have the potential to help discover new therapeutic targets and treatment strategies. In this review, we discuss how the latest developments in mathematical modeling can provide useful context for the rational design, validation and prioritization of novel cancer drug targets and their combinations. We give special attention to two modeling approaches: network-based modeling and multiscale modeling, because they have begun to show promise in facilitating the process of effective cancer drug discovery. Both modeling approaches are integrated with a variety of experimental methods to ensure proper parameterization and to maximize their predictive value. We also discuss several challenges faced in modeling-based drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
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16
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Johnson D, McKeever S, Stamatakos G, Dionysiou D, Graf N, Sakkalis V, Marias K, Wang Z, Deisboeck TS. Dealing with diversity in computational cancer modeling. Cancer Inform 2013; 12:115-24. [PMID: 23700360 PMCID: PMC3653811 DOI: 10.4137/cin.s11583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper discusses the need for interconnecting computational cancer models from different sources and scales within clinically relevant scenarios to increase the accuracy of the models and speed up their clinical adaptation, validation, and eventual translation. We briefly review current interoperability efforts drawing upon our experiences with the development of in silico models for predictive oncology within a number of European Commission Virtual Physiological Human initiative projects on cancer. A clinically relevant scenario, addressing brain tumor modeling that illustrates the need for coupling models from different sources and levels of complexity, is described. General approaches to enabling interoperability using XML-based markup languages for biological modeling are reviewed, concluding with a discussion on efforts towards developing cancer-specific XML markup to couple multiple component models for predictive in silico oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Johnson
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Steve McKeever
- Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Georgios Stamatakos
- Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitra Dionysiou
- Institute of Communication and Computer Systems, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Norbert Graf
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg, Germany
| | - Vangelis Sakkalis
- Institute of Computer Science at the Foundation for Research and Technology—Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Marias
- Institute of Computer Science at the Foundation for Research and Technology—Hellas, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Thomas S. Deisboeck
- Harvard-MIT (HST), Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
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17
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Das H, Wang Z, Niazi MKK, Aggarwal R, Lu J, Kanji S, Das M, Joseph M, Gurcan M, Cristini V. Impact of diffusion barriers to small cytotoxic molecules on the efficacy of immunotherapy in breast cancer. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61398. [PMID: 23620747 PMCID: PMC3631240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular-focused cancer therapies, e.g., molecularly targeted therapy and immunotherapy, so far demonstrate only limited efficacy in cancer patients. We hypothesize that underestimating the role of biophysical factors that impact the delivery of drugs or cytotoxic cells to the target sites (for associated preferential cytotoxicity or cell signaling modulation) may be responsible for the poor clinical outcome. Therefore, instead of focusing exclusively on the investigation of molecular mechanisms in cancer cells, convection-diffusion of cytotoxic molecules and migration of cancer-killing cells within tumor tissue should be taken into account to improve therapeutic effectiveness. To test this hypothesis, we have developed a mathematical model of the interstitial diffusion and uptake of small cytotoxic molecules secreted by T-cells, which is capable of predicting breast cancer growth inhibition as measured both in vitro and in vivo. Our analysis shows that diffusion barriers of cytotoxic molecules conspire with γδ T-cell scarcity in tissue to limit the inhibitory effects of γδ T-cells on cancer cells. This may increase the necessary ratios of γδ T-cells to cancer cells within tissue to unrealistic values for having an intended therapeutic effect, and decrease the effectiveness of the immunotherapeutic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiranmoy Das
- Department of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HD); (MG); (VC)
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - M. Khalid Khan Niazi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Reeva Aggarwal
- Department of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jingwei Lu
- Department of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Suman Kanji
- Department of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Manjusri Das
- Department of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Matthew Joseph
- Department of Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Metin Gurcan
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HD); (MG); (VC)
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail: (HD); (MG); (VC)
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18
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Geyer T. Modeling metabolic processes between molecular and systems biology. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2013; 23:218-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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19
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Wang Z, Sagotsky J, Taylor T, Shironoshita P, Deisboeck TS. Accelerating cancer systems biology research through Semantic Web technology. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2012. [PMID: 23188758 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cancer systems biology is an interdisciplinary, rapidly expanding research field in which collaborations are a critical means to advance the field. Yet the prevalent database technologies often isolate data rather than making it easily accessible. The Semantic Web has the potential to help facilitate web-based collaborative cancer research by presenting data in a manner that is self-descriptive, human and machine readable, and easily sharable. We have created a semantically linked online Digital Model Repository (DMR) for storing, managing, executing, annotating, and sharing computational cancer models. Within the DMR, distributed, multidisciplinary, and inter-organizational teams can collaborate on projects, without forfeiting intellectual property. This is achieved by the introduction of a new stakeholder to the collaboration workflow, the institutional licensing officer, part of the Technology Transfer Office. Furthermore, the DMR has achieved silver level compatibility with the National Cancer Institute's caBIG, so users can interact with the DMR not only through a web browser but also through a semantically annotated and secure web service. We also discuss the technology behind the DMR leveraging the Semantic Web, ontologies, and grid computing to provide secure inter-institutional collaboration on cancer modeling projects, online grid-based execution of shared models, and the collaboration workflow protecting researchers' intellectual property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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20
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Chakrabarti A, Verbridge S, Stroock AD, Fischbach C, Varner JD. Multiscale models of breast cancer progression. Ann Biomed Eng 2012; 40:2488-500. [PMID: 23008097 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-012-0655-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer initiation, invasion and metastasis span multiple length and time scales. Molecular events at short length scales lead to an initial tumorigenic population, which left unchecked by immune action, acts at increasingly longer length scales until eventually the cancer cells escape from the primary tumor site. This series of events is highly complex, involving multiple cell types interacting with (and shaping) the microenvironment. Multiscale mathematical models have emerged as a powerful tool to quantitatively integrate the convective-diffusion-reaction processes occurring on the systemic scale, with the molecular signaling processes occurring on the cellular and subcellular scales. In this study, we reviewed the current state of the art in cancer modeling across multiple length scales, with an emphasis on the integration of intracellular signal transduction models with pro-tumorigenic chemical and mechanical microenvironmental cues. First, we reviewed the underlying biomolecular origin of breast cancer, with a special emphasis on angiogenesis. Then, we summarized the development of tissue engineering platforms which could provide high-fidelity ex vivo experimental models to identify and validate multiscale simulations. Lastly, we reviewed top-down and bottom-up multiscale strategies that integrate subcellular networks with the microenvironment. We present models of a variety of cancers, in addition to breast cancer specific models. Taken together, we expect as the sophistication of the simulations increase, that multiscale modeling and bottom-up agent-based models in particular will become an increasingly important platform technology for basic scientific discovery, as well as the identification and validation of potentially novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirikh Chakrabarti
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 244 Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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21
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Abstract
Simulating cancer behavior across multiple biological scales in space and time, i.e., multiscale cancer modeling, is increasingly being recognized as a powerful tool to refine hypotheses, focus experiments, and enable more accurate predictions. A growing number of examples illustrate the value of this approach in providing quantitative insights in the initiation, progression, and treatment of cancer. In this review, we introduce the most recent and important multiscale cancer modeling works that have successfully established a mechanistic link between different biological scales. Biophysical, biochemical, and biomechanical factors are considered in these models. We also discuss innovative, cutting-edge modeling methods that are moving predictive multiscale cancer modeling toward clinical application. Furthermore, because the development of multiscale cancer models requires a new level of collaboration among scientists from a variety of fields such as biology, medicine, physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science, an innovative Web-based infrastructure is needed to support this growing community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Deisboeck
- Harvard-MIT (HST) Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129
| | - Zhihui Wang
- Harvard-MIT (HST) Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129
| | - Paul Macklin
- Division of Mathematics, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, United Kingdom
| | - Vittorio Cristini
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131.,Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131]
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22
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Wang Z, Bordas V, Deisboeck TS. Discovering Molecular Targets in Cancer with Multiscale Modeling. Drug Dev Res 2010; 72:45-52. [PMID: 21572568 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.20401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Multiscale modeling is increasingly being recognized as a promising research area in computational cancer systems biology. Here, exemplified by two pioneering studies, we attempt to explain why and how such a multiscale approach paired with an innovative cross-scale analytical technique can be useful in identifying high-value molecular therapeutic targets. This novel, integrated approach has the potential to offer a more effective in silico framework for target discovery and represents an important technical step towards systems medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Wang
- Harvard-MIT (HST) Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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