Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases that are characterized by abnormal behavior of the body’s own cells.  Normal cells work together with other cells to perform required bodily functions.  Cells grow in a structured way to create tissue and organs.  When they become old, they die (apoptosis) and are replaced by new cells.  Cancer cells are different.  They no longer grow in a structured way, and the rate of cell division can also increase.  Thus, a group of cancer cells can grow in an uncontrolled fashion and form a tumor.  The tumor contains quickly dividing cells with little or no apparent structure.  Another hallmark of cancer is cell immortality.  Some cancer cells lack the programing used to self-destruct.  As a result, the cancer cell may continue to grow and replicate without bounds.  Cancer cells may also develop migratory characteristics.  This enables cells to crawl away from their original location, enabling them to invade other tissue.  If these cells enter the blood stream or lymphatic system, they can easily travel to other parts of the body to form new tumors in different locations.  This process is called metastases.

Cancer treatment is particularly challenging, because the cancer cells are mutations of normal cells.  Thus, it may be difficult to differentiate cancer cells from normal cells.  There are more than 100 types of cancer stemming from various organs in the body.  Common treatments for cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. 

Engineers have created mathematical models to study cancer and tumor growth.  Models can account for cell proliferation rates, angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels), cell-to-cell signaling, cellular migration, biological signals, and treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.  Models and simulations can be helpful in cancer research to understand the potential effects of different treatment methods and to uncover the underlying principles governing complex system behavior.  By combining computer simulation and biological experiments, a deeper understanding of the behavior of cancer can be developed than can be obtained through experiments alone.