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Physical laws predict that tumor eradication by systemic therapy is limited
Author(s) -
Bearer Elaine L,
Cristini Vittorio
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.243.12
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , pathological , systemic therapy , radiation therapy , cancer therapy , adjuvant chemotherapy , histopathology , oncology , adjuvant therapy , cancer , pathology , breast cancer
Approaches to cancer therapy include various combinations of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with the latter being typically delivered through systemic vasculature. Yet most of these approaches have limited effectiveness. Current research focuses on the use of existing therapy in new combinations and sequences, i.e. “adjuvant” therapy, and/or discovery of new drugs aimed at known and novel targets. Here we use mathematics based on physical laws to investigate the behavior of tumors during systemic chemotherapy. Our results show that diffusion limits chemotherapy and predict that nests of cells will remain at the conclusion of therapy. These results are supported by histopathology examination of 8 glioblastomas after chemotherapy. The pathological examination revealed profound alteration in vascular pattern in treated, recurrent tumors, with decreased tumor‐vessel approximations. These findings predict that nests of individual tumor cells persist, un‐attainable through vascular means, and thus chemotherapy alone cannot eradicate a tumor. We suggest new strategies and a rule‐based approach for development of regimens for adjuvant and combined tumor therapy. Supported by NINDS NS062184 (ELB) and 1U54CA143837 (VC).