A proposed simulation system for modeling cell growth and assessing the effect of drug treatment on tumors

Abstract

The use of simulation techniques to develop schedules for chemotherapy of solid tumors is discussed. In recent years the Gompertz model has been verified as an accurate model of tumor cell growth. Interest in describing the growth of cell systems has resulted in the development of generalized cell growth simulation systems, enabling models of cell growth, cell kills and reaction to different stimuli to be simulated.This paper discusses the development of GOMPSIM, a hybrid system based on one such cell growth simulation system, CELLSIM, and an algorithm that fits actual tumor growth data to the Gompertz model. GOMPSIM modifies the CELLSIM parameters in successive trials until the simulated cell growth matches the Gompertz description of the tumor growth. Once the CELLSIM parameters describing the actual tumor growth are determined, the model created by these parameters is used to determine if effective chemotherapy is possible by simulating "cell kills" similar to events resulting from administering a drug. By observing the simulated reaction of the tumor (continued growth, attrition,...), it is hoped that a better understanding of cell kinetics and ultimately an effective drug treatment program can be determined.