The Joy of Why How Can Math Help Beat Cancer?
Oct 10, 2024
Franziska Michor, a Harvard Professor of computational biology and director at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses the groundbreaking intersection of math and cancer treatment. She reveals how mathematical models and machine learning can enhance therapy strategies amidst the evolving nature of cancer. Insights into personal experiences that shaped her career highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, advances in early diagnostics and proactive treatment strategies using circulating tumor DNA are thoroughly explored.
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Cancer Cell Behavior
- Cancer cells proliferate uncontrollably in abnormal locations, disrupting tissue organization.
- This uncontrolled growth and spread, known as metastasis, poses significant clinical challenges.
Cancer as an Evolutionary Process
- Cancer evolution refers to the changes in cell populations within a patient's lifetime.
- This involves somatic cells, not germline cells, becoming increasingly aggressive and leading to cancerous growth.
Breakdown of Multicellularity
- Cancer is a breakdown in the covenant of multicellularity, where cells stop behaving cooperatively.
- Cancer cells become selfish, proliferating uncontrollably and outcompeting normal cells.