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.