Discrete dynamic network modeling of oncogenic signaling: Mechanistic insights for personalized treatment of cancer

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Jorge G T Zañudo1,2, Steven N Steinway3, Réka Albert1,4

  • 1Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.

Current Opinion in Systems Biology
|September 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Targeted cancer therapies show promise but face resistance. Discrete dynamic network models offer a way to understand complex tumor biology for personalized treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Computational Biology
  • Systems Biology

Background:

  • Targeted cancer drugs offer specificity and improved side effect profiles.
  • Therapy resistance remains a significant limitation for targeted cancer treatments.
  • A deeper understanding of the tumor's cellular landscape is needed to overcome resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the application of discrete dynamic network models in cancer research.
  • To highlight therapeutic strategies predicted by these models.
  • To advocate for the use of dynamic network modeling in personalized cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of discrete dynamic network models in cancer.
  • Analysis of model-predicted therapeutic strategies.
  • Discussion of the potential for dynamic network modeling in clinical decision-making.

Main Results:

  • Discrete dynamic network models can elucidate the integrated effects of tumor aberrations.
  • These models predict specific therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance.
  • The review identifies key insights from existing literature.

Conclusions:

  • Discrete dynamic network modeling provides a framework for understanding complex cancer biology.
  • This approach can guide personalized treatment decisions.
  • Dynamic network modeling holds potential for improving cancer treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
Boolean modelCancer phenotypesCombinatorial therapyDiscrete dynamical systemDrug resistanceDynamic modelNetwork modelPersonalized therapySignal transduction networksTargeted cancer therapy

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