Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
MC 6496
Brandon May, Applied Math, University of Waterloo
A Hybrid Cellular Automata Model for the Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Novel Tumour Treatment Strategies
Cancer is a disease that entails uncontrolled proliferation and a disruption of tissue function that often results in a poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, it has continued to elude an universal treatment or cure; in part, because of the complexity seen across multiple spatial and temporal scales. In silico modelling techniques, such as hybrid cellular automata (HCA), provide an inexpensive and versatile means of incorporating experimental factors that are either impossible or unfeasible to control and investigate when using in vivo or in vitro experimental settings. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical molecules in cellular processes and have been demonstrated to induce effects on cellular processes ranging from proliferation to metabolic reprogramming and cell death. Dichloroacetate (DCA) and intravenous vitamin C (VC) are two proposed treatments that induce death via ROS and have begun to gain attention from the oncology community for their relative lack of toxicity and potential efficacy. Thus, investigating a HCA model to optimize their effects can be influential in the success of these drugs. The implementation of components such as necrotic cell removal and accurate pharmacokinetics in the model has a considerable effect on the outcome of VC treatment individually and in combination. Furthermore, VC is most effective at removing tumour cells entirely when its plasma concentration is maximized, while DCA's cytotoxic action plateaus as its concentration increases and is only effective at removing cell types that exist within the interior of the tumour.
Contact Info
Department of Applied Mathematics
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32700
Fax: 519-746-4319
PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within our Office of Indigenous Relations.