Narrow Results

Here we review some spatial and non-spatial stochastic methods developed to study the dynamics of cancer progression. We illustrate the methodology with applications to the two most common patterns in cancer initiation and progression: loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations. An example of a gain-of-function mutation is an activation of an oncogene; for such mutations we are interested in the process of mutant take-over. An example of a loss-of-function mutation is an inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene; for such processes we calculate the rate of production of double-hit mutants. We consider three stochastic models of cell populations with a constant size: a simple mass-action model, a spatial model and a hierarchical model which contains stem cells and daughter cells. Interestingly, the process of mutation accumulation and spread develops differently in different models. This suggests that simple mass-action models can be misleading when studying cancer dynamics. Moreover, our results also allow us to think about various types of tissue architecture and its protective role against cancer. In particular, we show that hierarchical tissue organization lowers the risk of cancerous transformations. Also, cellular motility and long-range signaling can decrease the risk of cancer in solid tissues.

Many tissues undergo a steady turnover, where cell divisions are on average balanced with cell deaths. Cell fate decisions such as stem cell (SC) differentiations, proliferations, or differentiated cell (DC) deaths, may be controlled by cell populations through cell-to-cell signaling. Here, we examine a class of mathematical models of turnover in SC lineages to understand engineering design principles of control (feedback) loops, that may operate in such systems. By using ordinary differential equations that describe the co-dynamics of SCs and DCs, we study the effect of different types of mutations that interfere with feedback present within cellular networks. For instance, we find that mutants that do not participate in feedback are less dangerous in the sense that they will not rise from low numbers, whereas mutants that do not respond to feedback signals could rise and replace the wild-type population. Additionally, we asked if different feedback networks can have different degrees of resilience against such mutations. We found that all minimal networks, that is networks consisting of exactly one feedback loop that is sufficient for homeostatic stability of the wild-type population, are equally vulnerable. Mutants with a weakened/eliminated feedback parameter might expand from lower numbers and either enter unlimited growth or reach an equilibrium with an increased number of SCs and DCs. Therefore, from an evolutionary viewpoint, it appears advantageous to combine feedback loops, creating redundant feedback networks. Interestingly, from an engineering prospective, not all such redundant systems are equally resilient. For some of them, any mutation that weakens/eliminates one of the loops will lead to a population growth of SCs. For others, the population of SCs can actually shrink as a result of “cutting” one of the loops, thus slowing down further unwanted transformations.

Australia Achieves World Breakthrough in Eye Surgery.

Adult Stem Cells Give Hope to Heart Repair.

Australian Scientist Trying to Make Sense of Synesthesia.

Chinese Scientists Find DNA in Ancient Plants.

Chinese Scientist Develops Cancer Monitoring Bio-chip.

India Develops Three Varieties of Bt Cotton.

Rat Experiment Boosts Hope for Weak Heart.

Light Therapy Could Reverse Sun Damage.

New Zealand Scientists Breed Designer Mussels.

Thai Researcher Blames Fish Sauce for Sleep Deaths.

Two Gene GM Cotton Given OK in Australia.

NZ Approves Foreign Genes in Cows.

Taiwan Mulls Stem Cells as Public Assets Proposal.

Biolaw 2002 Takes on Biotech’s Legal Aspects.

Sunlight Found to Affect Serotonin Levels.

Brisbane Researchers to Lead Study on HPV Skin Cancer Link.

China Develops its First Automatic Biochemical Analyzer.

Hepatitis Biochip Marks Breakthrough in China.

Chinese Scientists Successfully Breeds Ten Pandas in 2002.

Damaged Hearts Treated with Stem Cells.

Genetically Modified Potatoes to Combat Malnutrition.

Japan to Start Genetic Data Project.

Japanese Researchers Link Kidney Disease to Rat Virus.

Researchers Achieve Diagnostic Breakthrough Using Optical Fiber.

Bat Enzyme Promises Better Stroke Treatment.

Nine New Diabetes Genes Identified.

Successful Bone Marrow Stem Cells Conversion to Brain Tissue.

Discovery of New Mutation Associated with Cardiac Disorder.

Engineered Tissue Applied in Wound Healing.

China Collaborates with US and Korea in Digitized Visible Human Technology.

Novartis Halts the Development of Reddy's Diabetes Drug.

Japanese Study Shows that Coffee Reduces Cancer Risk in Women.

Unhealthy Early Eating Habits Lead to Obesity.

Clinical Studies Begin for Parkinson's Disease Treatment.

Type I Diabetes and Heart Disease Linked to Milk Protein.

Cloned Cows Produce High Protein Milk for Human Consumption.

Adult Brain Stem Cells Capable of Self-Repair.

Cytomatrix Aims to Drive Clinical Trials and Technology Commercialization.

Wockhardt to Establish Joint Ventures in Mexico and South Africa.

Yamanouchi and Fujisawa Merger.

Anifungal Drug Mycaime™ Receives FDA Approval.

Kissei and Dainippon Conclude Licensing Agreement for KGA-2727.

SKK and Quark Biotech in Collaboration to License Dyslipidemia Treatment.

NUS and BioDtech Collaborate to Develop Endotoxin Detection and Removal Technology.

The article is about the tissue engineering laboratory in Malaysia. It touches on six areas of bioengineering, namely: skin, cartilage, bone, respiratory epithelium, stem cells and biomaterials.

Unveiling the Treasure Maps in Stem Cells.

Scientists Use Skin to Create Stem Cells.

Korean Researchers Unveil 3D Structure of Cell Termination-Controlling Protein.

Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes Identified.

Research Teams are Hopeful of Finding New Ways to Treat Patients.

Research Team Found Humans and Elephant Shark Share Common DNA Fragments.

Singapore Scientists Discover Protein Modifcations to Develop Stem Cells into Specialized Body Tissues.

AUSTRALIA — Australian Scientist Awarded $1M for Gene Therapy Research.

AUSTRALIA — $900,000 Multiphoton Microscope Unveiled at Sydney's Centenary Institute.

AUSTRALIA — Australian Stem Cell Scientist on Target to Prevent Age-related Loss of Brain Function.

CHINA — Chinese Scientists Complete Successful Greenhouse Breeding of a Medicinal Herb.

CHINA — China Aoxing Pharmaceutical Designated as Key Manufacturer of Cancer Pain Drug, Tilidine.

CHINA — Chinese Neuropsychologist Makes Novel Progress in Studies of Schizophrenia.

JAPAN — Vetter Receives Japanese Certificates of Accreditation of Foreign Manufacturer.

INDIA — Heart Problems to Take Epidemic Form in India.

INDIA — Scientists Discover the Most Important Candidate Genes for Pancreatic Stone Formation.

INDIA — India and Canada to Collaborate on Pharma Opportunities.

INDIA — Tata Drug Development Center Opens in Bangalore.

NEW ZEALAND — A Squid Gel Commands Global Attention.

SINGAPORE — Singapore's National Cancer Center Launches Its First Satellite Clinic.

SINGAPORE — Lien Foundation to Develop Electronic Healthcare System.

TAIWAN — STUT Study Reveals Mushroom Good for Ovarian Cysts.

Invitrogen Enters into a Licensing Agreement with IMBcom.

Stem Cell Sciences Enters into an Agreement with Myelin Repair Foundation.

European Company NovaSecta Joins First Chinese CRO Service Alliance for Drug Discovery Solutions.

DuPont (DD) Opens Fluoropolymer Production Plant in China.

Satyam Opens Center to Cater to Life Sciences Industry.

Eisai and Accenture Launch Clinical Data Management in India.

Sanofi Pasteur and Statens Serum Institute Team Up against Tuberculosis.

Roche Diagnostics and Mankind Pharma Collaborate on Accu-Chek Go.

Nicholas Unit Signs Drug Development Pact with Eli Lilly & Co.

Pierre Fabre and Nicholas Piramal Sign Oncology Research Agreement.

Fortis HealthWorld Works with Godrej Aadhaar to Reach Out to Rural Areas in India.

Karo Bio and Zydus Cadila Sign Research Agreement.

ICGEB Joins with Emory Vaccine Center.

DiscoveRx Corporation Signs Agreement with Cosmo Bio.

Sysmex and bioMérieux Form Commercial Joint Venture for the Japanese In Vitro Diagnostics Market.

Progeniq Launches Next-generation BioBoost v4.0 Accelerator.

Celltrion and CSL Announce Collaboration to Develop and Manufacture Monoclonal Antibody.

Antitope Ltd Announces Research Agreement with China Synthetic Rubber Corporation.

Merck and DCB Announce Cooperation to Create New Biotech Services and Training Center.

Taiwan's PharmaEssentia Signs Deal with Malaysia's Black Gold Global.

HealthLinx and InSymbiosis to Co-develop Therapeutic Compounds for Lung Disease.

New Indication for VivaGel^®: Bacterial Vaginosis.

Stem Cell Sciences Granted UK Patent for New Growth Medium to Revolutionize Growth of Authentic Embryonic Stem Cells.

DxS Launches Cancer Mutation Kit for K-RAS in Australia.

Baxter and Peking University Third Hospital Advance Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease through Region's First Education and Research Academy.

WuXi PharmaTech Expands Collaboration with AstraZeneca.

Beike Biotech Opens Comprehensive Stem Cell Storage and Processing Facility in China.

Novartis Signs Pact with Lonza.

Actelion Links with GlaxoSmithKline for Almorexant Development.

Piramal Healthcare Acquires Haemaccel Brands Group of PlasmaSelect AG, Germany.

Sigma-Aldrich Announces Collaboration with Metahelix Life Sciences.

Seattle Genetics Announces Antibody-Drug Conjugate Collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo.

Alnylam and Kyowa Hakko Form Alliance for the Development and Commercialization of ALN-RSV01 in Asia.

Cobrabio Announces Manufacturing Agreement with ViroMed for VM206RY.

Apollo Acquisition Boosts NZ Biotech Symansis.

Installation of Southeast Asia's First Liquid Nitrogen- and Cryogen-Free Freezer at Singapore's NUH-NUS Tissue Repository.

STMicroelectronics and Debiotech Announce First Prototypes of Disposable Insulin Nanopump.

AUSTRALIA — Allogenic Stem Cells Effectively Treat Eye Diseases

AUSTRALIA — Leukemia Breakthrough in Australia

AUSTRALIA — A$20 Million for ICT Innovation in Healthcare

AUSTRALIA — Impact of “Silent” Osteoporosis on Australians

AUSTRALIA — Bacteria that Eat Cancer-causers Found

AUSTRALIA — New Therapy for HIV Treatment

CHINA — Chinese SFDA Approves Helicon's ReCell® Concept and Kit — Skin Regeneration Concept and Device

CHINA — Research on Breast Cancer Stem Cells Offers Hope for Vaccine

CHINA — Infectious Intestinal Disease on Rise in North-east China, Causing 3 Deaths

CHINA — Global Stem Cell Forum in China Showcases Cutting-edge Research, Focuses on New Findings for IPS Cells

INDONESIA — Samsung Group to Develop Indonesian Biodiesel

INDIA — Indian Researchers on Way to Creating Vital Part of Human Eye

INDIA — Hyundai Motor Launches Rural Mobile Health Clinic

INDIA — Varadachari Implants New Life with Bio-release Micronutrients

INDIA — Siemens to Make Nuclear Medicines at Indian Plants

INDIA — Milestone Disc Replacement Surgery (4-level) Performed for the First Time in Asia at Artemis Health Institute

INDIA — Transasia Announces All India Launch of Erba Den-Go to Detect Dengue

INDIA — Biotech Sector Grows by 20%

INDIA — U.S., Europe, Australia to Jointly Inspect Indian Drug Factories

INDIA — Chennai Gets India's First Heart Implant Training Centre

JAPAN — MDS Pharma Opens New Facility in Japan

SINGAPORE — New Heart Disease Drug with Fewer Side Effects Available in Singapore

SINGAPORE — A*STAR and Oxford University Agreement Boosts Doctoral Training for A*STAR Scholars

TAIWAN — Biotech Sees Major Industry Changes

VIETNAM — Herbal Drug Offers Hope for Addicts

Driving Stem Cell Technology Forward – Stem Cell Sciences In-licenses Technology from University of Cambridge for Reprogramming Adult Cells into Stem Cells.

The Latest State-of-the-art Clinical Trial Supply Service Center Opens in China.

Charles River Strengthens Its Presence in China.

In the Making – China Biologic to Become Largest Non-state-owned Producer of Plasma-based Products in China.

Joint Venture between Eli Lilly and Jubilant Organosys Boosts Development of Molecules.

From Discovery to Delivery – Orchid & Merck Collaborate to Develop Novel Anti-infective Drugs.

New Standard for Early Diagnosis of Urinary Bladder Cancer Launched.

Gene Bridges Granted Licenses to Takeda Pharmaceuticals Licenses for Recombineering Technology.

East-West Collaboration to Develop Therapeutics for Fully-human Antibody Program.

The Kiwis Open Commercialization Pathway into the Land of Dragons.

Innovative Institute-Industry Partnership in Translational Cancer Research.

Singapore to be the Takeda's Center of Clinical Development.

First South-east Asian Hub for Solar PV Testing and Certification Opens in Singapore.

AUSTRALIA – Second-Generation Diagnostic Achieves 98% Accuracy in Detecting Early Stage Ovarian Cancers

AUSTRALIA – New Center Brings Australian and Chinese Researchers Together to Fight Infectious Diseases

AUSTRALIA – Co-developing New Treatment Guidelines for Melanoma

AUSTRALIA – Australia Leads World's First Global Effort to Improve Genetic Disorders Diagnosis

CHINA – China Bans Illegal Food Additives to Reinforce Food Safety Control

CHINA – China Steps Up Tighter Inspection in Food Safety

CHINA – WHO and China to Do More for Chinese with Hearing Impairment

CHINA – First TCM Drug for Arrhythmia

CHINA – First Human-Human Transmission of Tick-Borne Disease Reported in China

CHINA – Bird Flu Found in Chickens in Eastern China

CHINA – First Bird Flu Death Reported for 2009, No Bird-flu Outbreak

HONG KONG – Hong Kong Alerts New Bird Flu Outbreak

INDIA – India Also Confirmed Bird Flu Incidence

INDIA – India Plans 20 More Biotech Parks for Life Sciences Research

KOREA – An Economic Share in Medical Tourism Market

JAPAN – Brain Tissues Made from Stem Cells

NEW ZEALAND – Newly Merged Research Institute Leverage Greater Synergy

NEW ZEALAND – Kiwi's Green Plastic Well-Acclaimed in International Awards

NEW ZEALAND – Sea Sponge Indigenous to NZ Could Reduce Chemo Side Effects

PHILIPPINES – Ebola-Reston Virus Jumped Species

SINGAPORE – Human Sewage, the Potential Source of Clean Energy

SINGAPORE – No More Heart-stopping Incidents for Heart Patients

SINGAPORE – China Milk Products Get All-Clear from Singapore

SINGAPORE – Discovery of New Properties in Imidazolium Salts Yield Multi Applications

SINGAPORE – S'pore Ranked World's Most Prolific for Eye Research Per Capita

SINGAPORE – Outdoor Sun Reduces Incidence of Myopia in Children

TAIWAN – University Hospital in Taiwan Collaborates with Neuralstem

VIETNAM – Return of Bird Flu, Vietnam Runs High Risk of Human Infection

VIETNAM – Conjoined Twins Successfully Separated

VIETNAM – Rise in Off-Season Dengue Fever Cases

NORTH AMERICA – Epilepsy Drugs Prescription to Carry Suicide Risk Warning

NORTH AMERICA – U.S. Doctors Succeeded Near-total Face Transplant

NORTH AMERICA – Vaccinating Pacific Girls against Cervical Cancer

NORTH AMERICA – Manipulating Love and Emotions by Spray

EUROPE – Cambridge Pips Oxford in Research

EUROPE – Adapting Car Manufacturing Technology to Produce Synthetic Bone Implants

EUROPE – Dioxin-tainted Irish Pork Products Recalled

AUSTRALIA – First iPS Cell Line Puts Australia in the Lead of Stem Cell Research.

AUSTRALIA – New Treatment Hope for Prostate Cancer.

CHINA – AIDS Is China's Top Killer Among Infectious Diseases.

CHINA – Anti-bird Flu Drug for Human Clinical Trial Approved by China.

CHINA – China Plans 120 Billion Dollar Health Reform By 2011.

CHINA – 13 000 Fowl Culled in China After Bird flu.

CHINA – China-Russia Joint Research Center.

CHINA – Pig's Adult Stem Cells Produce Better Skins.

CHINA – More Health Scares Amid Slowdown, Warns China.

INDIA – Indian Experts Find Bacteria to Beat Global Heat.

INDIA – Two Indian Firms to set up Pre-clinical Trial Units in Malaysia.

JAPAN – Breakthrough in Universal Flu Vaccine Development.

SINGAPORE – Taiwan Pork Banned by AVA.

SINGAPORE – Stem-Cell Treatment For Joint Pain Gives New Hope.

SINGAPORE – Next Generation Healthcare Information System.

SINGAPORE – Top US University Sets up Research Centre in Singapore.

SINGAPORE – Increase in Life-saving Umbilical Cord Donations.

SINGAPORE – Singapore and China Scientists Report Breakthrough Research in Psoriasis.

SOUTH KOREA – Harmful Bacteria in French Baby Formula.

SOUTH KOREA – World's First Cloned Wolves to Test Reproductive Fitness.

TAIWAN – Genetic Testing on the Rise.

TAIWAN – Chinese Herbal Medicines Contain Western Drug Ingredients.

VIETNAM – Bird Flu Strikes in Five Provinces in Vietnam.

VIETNAM – Opening of Vietnam's First Stem Cell Bank, "MekoStem".

VIETNAM – Hanoi Suffers Worst Measles Outbreak in Decade.

OTHER REGIONS — EUROPE – Social Networking = Disease?

OTHER REGIONS — EUROPE – Cancer Morbidity 'to Double in 40 Years'.

OTHER REGIONS — NORTH AMERICA – Scientists Close in on 'Universal' Vaccine for Flu.

OTHER REGIONS — NORTH AMERICA – Hong Kong and US Scientists Develop New Bird Flu Vaccine.

AUSTRALIA – Australia Developing Breakthrough Leukemia Research Strategy.

AUSTRALIA – Obesity Associated With Detrimental Changes in Ovary.

AUSTRALIA – Queensland's Dengue Outbreak Worsens.

CHINA – Global Fund Assists Guangxi In Anti-AIDS Programs.

CHINA – Chinese Scientists Clone 5 Human Embryos for Research.

CHINA – China Stockpiles Vaccine for Possible Bird Flu Outbreak.

CHINA – QIAGEN Supports Cervical Cancer Screening for Underprivileged.

CHINA – JCI and Peking University Collaborate on Patient Safety and Education in China.

CHINA – Scientists Identify Key Drug Target in Bird Flu Virus.

CHINA – China Facing Burden from Chronic Diseases.

CHINA – Chinese Scientists Discover Achilles' Heel for SARS Virus.

CHINA – 18 HFMD Child Fatalities in China.

CHINA – Mainland China Reports 838 Infectious Disease Fatalities in February.

HONG KONG – Lethal Fungal Contamination in Drug.

HONG KONG – Hong Kong Experiences Record High HIV Infection Level.

INDIA – Stem Cells Help Save Man's Leg From Amputation.

INDIA – Human Trials for Kalaazar Vaccine Soon.

INDIA – Stem Cell Banks Expand on Prospects of Healthy Dividend.

INDIA – Biotech Rice to be Commercially Available in India by 2012.

INDIA – Rising Demand for Herbal Medicines in Jammu Kashmir.

INDIA – India, UNESCO to Set up Biotech Centre.

INDONESIA – Health Ministry Clears up Vaccine Dispute.

JAPAN – Bird Flu Detected in Second Quail Farm in Central Japan.

NEW ZEALAND – NZ Med Tech Sector Continues to Thrive.

NEW ZEALAND – Aerobics Classes can Cause Hearing Damage.

SINGAPORE – Dengue fever is on the rise in Singapore.

SINGAPORE – Will New US Policy Stem Talent Flow to Singapore?

SINGAPORE – HBOT Now Available at SGH.

SINGAPORE – Cancer Society's Colorectal Screenings Helped Save 123 lives.

SINGAPORE – National Heart Centre Singapore Unveils New Techniques for Heart Patients.

SINGAPORE – NTU Seals Global Partnerships in Environmental Sciences R&D.

SINGAPORE – NUH Cancer Center in Major Cancer Drug Trial.

SINGAPORE – Need More Trained Doctors? Build New Medical School.

VIETNAM – Harmful Bacteria Found in Bottled Water.

OTHER REGIONS — EUROPE – Hot Tea Linked to Throat Cancer.

USA – New Vaccine Method 'Offers Instant Immunity'.

World's Smallest and Longest-Lasting Rechargeable Neurostimulator Gets Australia's Nod.

Chip-On-Chip and Gene Expression Used to Study How Yamanaka Factors Trigger Pluripotency.

New Antiviral Drug Discovery to Combat Influenza Virus.

DuPont Crop Protection Sees Research Synergies in Syngene's 'One Box' Model.

Ono Enters into Drug Discovery Agreement with Xention.

Eisai and Teikoku To Develop and Market Transdermal Patch for Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Global Collaboration on Novel Atrial Fibrillation Compound.

Boston Scientific's Taxus Liberte Drug-Eluting Stent Launched in Japan.

Symansis Wins NZ Emerging Company Award.

Illumina's Entry Puts Singapore on Map as a Global Gene Chip Player.

Neste Oil's Renewable Biofuel Plant in Singapore Ready in 2010.

Singapore and US Collaborate—Leveraging Forma's Tranformative Chemistry Platform.