A mathematical framework for minimally invasive tumor ablation therapies

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Minimally invasive tumor ablations (MITAs) are crucial for solid tumor treatment.
• Mathematical modeling of MITAs is fragmented across different ablation modalities.
• Clinical need exists for unified models to predict outcomes across various MITAs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and unify mathematical modeling approaches for four key MITA modalities.
• To highlight similarities in modeling across different MITA techniques.
• To provide a framework for analyzing MITA models and their sensitivity to physiological parameters.

Main Methods:

• Review of mathematical models for radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, and irreversible electroporation.
• Analysis of modeling similarities within a general framework.
• Discussion of model validation and parameterization using in vivo data.

Main Results:

• Identified common challenges and similarities in mathematical modeling across different MITA modalities.
• Proposed a general framework for analyzing and comparing MITA models.
• Emphasized the need for robust validation and in vivo data for accurate model parameterization.

Conclusions:

• A unified approach to MITA modeling can enhance understanding and improve treatment selection.
• Addressing model sensitivity to physiological parameters is key for reliable ablation zone predictions.
• Accurate model parameterization and validation are essential for clinical translation of MITA modeling.