How many different cancers are in a solid tumour?
How many different cancers are in a solid tumour?
- Event time: 1:00pm
- Event date: 18th March 2013
- Speaker: Dr Bartlomiej Waclaw (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Location: Room 2511, James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Modelling cancer has become a popular activity among mathematical biologists and physicists. However, present models omit a very important (from a practical point of view) aspect of cancer growth: the accumulation of neutral mutations. These mutations, called "passengers", do not carry any fitness advantage under normal circumstances, but may do so when treated with drugs. Due to the lack of experimental data it has become clear only very recently that different passenger mutations can occupy different locations in the tumour, and so the tumour is genetically very heterogeneous. In this talk I will explain my attempts at modelling genetic heterogeneity in tumours, and make some (grim) predictions for the possibility of any substantial improvement in cancer chemotherapy. I will also discuss interesting parallels between tumours and bacterial populations growing on solid substrates (2d) or suspended in gels (3d).
About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..