Modelling the development of pre-invasive neoplastic bronchial epithelial lesions

Alma Barranco-Mendoza

School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada

Abstract

Lung cancer cases account for 28% of all deaths caused by cancer, but current treatment options lead to a cure in only 10% of these cases. It is well known that the survival rates can be improved by the early detection of pre-invasive lesions which are believed to be the possible precursors of malignant tumors. Although new technology is allowing numerous early lesions to be detected, it is becoming clear that only a small percentage of them will progress to cancer. On this paper a stochastic model for the growth of neoplastic bronchial epithelial cells is presented. The results are analysed to differentiate progressive lesions from regressive ones given a particular biopsy, i.e., a longitudinal section of the central area if the lesion.