COMPUTER-SIMULATION APPLIED TO RADIATION-THERAPY IN CANCER-RESEARCH

Previous studies have shown that systems analysis, control theory, and computer science can stimulate new approaches in the fight against ca ncer. These approaches have enabled researchers to interpret cancer as an unstable closed-loop control circuit, to study tumor growth, and t o optimize tumor treatment. The aim of this paper is to discuss the us e of mathematics in (1) modeling the growth of tumor spheroids; (2) si mulating different clinical treatment schedules applied to irradiation of in vitro tumor spheroids; and (3) considering the side effects of radiation on rapidly proliferating normal tissue. A comparison of the simulation results with clinical experience demonstrates that the clin ical reality can be qualitatively represented by the model. This metho d enables the number and length of time-consuming studies to be reduce d prior to clinical therapy.