Oedema-based model for diffuse low-grade gliomas: application to clinical cases under radiotherapy

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Mathematical Biology
• Radiotherapy Research

Background:

• Diffuse low-grade gliomas grow slowly but can transform into aggressive tumors.
• Current treatments aim to prevent tumor regrowth and anaplastic transformation.
• Mathematical modeling offers a potential tool for optimizing radiotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model the effect of radiotherapy on diffuse low-grade gliomas.
• To explain the observed delay in tumor regrowth after radiotherapy.
• To predict the duration of this regrowth delay.

Main Methods:

• A migration-proliferation model was developed.
• An equation for edema appearance and draining was incorporated.
• The model was applied to clinical data from 28 patients.

Main Results:

• Edema draining was identified as the cause of post-radiotherapy regrowth delay.
• The model accurately fitted clinical tumor radius data.
• A correlation between high proliferation and reduced progression-free survival was predicted.

Conclusions:

• An edema-based model can predict radiotherapy response duration.
• This model enables early estimation of individual treatment outcomes.
• The findings support the development of personalized radiotherapy strategies.