Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 28, 2025
04:48
Chemotherapy-induced Vascular Toxicity - Real-time In vivo Imaging of Vessel Impairment
Published on: January 7, 2015
7.6K
A caution for oncologists: chemotherapy can cause chaotic dynamics.
M Saleem1, M Younus Baba1, Abdur Raheem2
1Department of Applied Mathematics, Z.H. College of Engineering and Technology, AMU, Aligarh 202002 India.
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
|December 1, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a new model for chemotherapy, showing that proper drug dosage can eradicate cancer. However, incorrect dosing can lead to unexpected chaotic dynamics, highlighting the need for precise treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Mathematical Oncology
- Cancer Modeling
- Chemotherapy Dynamics
Background:
- Traditional cancer models use separate equations for chemotherapeutic agents.
- This study integrates drug effects as a parameter (m) representing fraction of tumor cells killed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine conditions on model parameters to avoid severe cancer outcomes.
- To investigate unexpected results of chemotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Linearization method applied to study model equilibria stability.
- Analysis based on the trichotomy law of the parameter 1-a12-d1.
Main Results:
- Under-dosing (d1 < 1-a12) prevents complete cancer eradication.
- Precise dosing (d1 > 1-a12) guarantees cancer eradication.
- Marginal dosing (d1 = 1-a12) may lead to chaotic dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Provides criteria for selecting chemotherapy drug modules for tumor eradication.
- Warns oncologists about potential chaotic dynamics from chemotherapy.
- Offers an explanation for spontaneous tumor remission.
Related Concept Videos
02:49Cancer Therapies
9.2K
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
9.2K
02:50Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
5.6K
Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.6K
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
6.3K
Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
6.3K
01:29Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
660
Dopamine receptor antagonists, also known as antipsychotic agents, are critical in managing chemotherapy-induced vomiting. These antiemetic agents block dopamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), inhibiting signal transmission to the vomiting center. Antipsychotic agents encompass phenothiazines (PTZ), butyrophenones, benzamides, and thienobenzodiazepines (Zyprexa), which are utilized for their antiemetic and sedative properties.
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
Phenothiazines, such as prochlorperazine...
660
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
3.5K
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.5K
02:18Cancer
52.4K
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
52.4K