Mathematically modeling the biological properties of gliomas: A review

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Although mathematical modeling is a mainstay for industrial and many scientific studies, such approaches have found little application in neurosurgery. However, the fusion of biological studies and applied mathematics is rapidly changing this environment, especially for cancer research. This review focuses on the exciting potential for mathematical models to provide new avenues for studying the growth of gliomas to practical use. In vitro studies are often used to simulate the effects of specific model parameters that would be difficult in a larger-scale model. With regard to glioma invasive properties, metabolic and vascular attributes can be modeled to gain insight into the infiltrative mechanisms that are attributable to the tumor's aggressive behavior. Morphologically, gliomas show different characteristics that may allow their growth stage and invasive properties to be predicted, and models continue to offer insight about how these attributes are manifested visually. Recent studies have attempted to predict the efficacy of certain treatment modalities and exactly how they should be administered relative to each other. Imaging is also a crucial component in simulating clinically relevant tumors and their influence on the surrounding anatomical structures in the brain.

Medical Subject Headings

Animals; Brain Neoplasms (pathology, physiopathology); Carcinogenesis; Cell Proliferation; Computer Simulation; Glioma (pathology, physiopathology); Humans; Models, Biological; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Proteins (metabolism)

Publication Date

8-1-2015

Publication Title

Mathematical biosciences and engineering : MBE

E-ISSN

1551-0018

Volume

12

Issue

4

First Page

879

Last Page

905

PubMed ID

25974347

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3934/mbe.2015.12.879

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