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A Review of Mathematical Models of Cancer–Immune Interactions in the Context of Tumor Dormancy

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Systems Biology of Tumor Dormancy

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 734))

Abstract

The role of the immune system in tumor dormancy is now well established. In an immune-induced dormant state, potentially lethal cancer cells persist in a state where growth is restricted, to little or no increase, by the host’s immune response. To describe this state in the context of cancer progression and immune response, basic temporal (spatially homogeneous) quantitative predator–prey constructs are discussed, along with some current and proposed augmentations that incorporate potentially significant biological phenomena such as the cancer cell transition to a quiescent state or the time delay in T-cell activation. Advances in cancer-immune modeling that describe complex interactions underlying the ability of the immune system to both promote and inhibit tumor growth are emphasized. Finally, the review concludes by discussing future mathematical challenges and their biological significance.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Note that the original article has a positive ( + ) sign and we have a negative ( − ) sign on the γx term. This change represents what the author believes to be the correct nondimensionalization of the proposed system.

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Dr. P. Hahnfeldt and Dr. L. Hlatky for their careful editing and support, and Dr. M. La Croix for his support and for the excellent graphical illustrations. This project was supported by the National Cancer Institute under Award Number U54CA149233 (to L. Hlatky) and by the Office of Science (BER), U.S. Department of Energy, under Award Number DE-SC0001434 (to P. Hahnfeldt). The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Cancer Systems Biology, Steward Research & Specialty Projects Corp.,St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 736 Cambridge St., Boston, MA, 02135, USA

    Kathleen P. Wilkie

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  1. Kathleen P. Wilkie
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Correspondence to Kathleen P. Wilkie .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine, 145 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 02135, Massachusetts, USA

    Heiko Enderling

  2. , Center of Cancer Systems Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 736 Cambridge Street, Boston, 02135, Massachusetts, USA

    Nava Almog

  3. , Center of Cancer Systems Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 736 Cambridge Street, Boston, 02135, Massachusetts, USA

    Lynn Hlatky

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Wilkie, K.P. (2013). A Review of Mathematical Models of Cancer–Immune Interactions in the Context of Tumor Dormancy. In: Enderling, H., Almog, N., Hlatky, L. (eds) Systems Biology of Tumor Dormancy. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 734. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1445-2_10

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