Collective Dynamics in Biological and Social Systems

Population dynamics and therapeutic resistance: mathematical models

Alexander Lorz

Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)

Motivated by the theory of mutation-selection in adaptive evolution, we propose a model based on a continuous variable that represents the expression level of a resistance phenotype. This phenotype influences birth/death rates, effects of chemotherapies (both cytotoxic and cytostatic) and mutations in healthy and tumor cells. We extend previous work by demonstrating how qualitatively different actions of cytostatic (slowing down cell division) and cytostatic (actively killing cells) treatments may induce different levels of resistance.