Using evolvable genetic cellular automata to model breast cancer

Cancer is an evolutionary process; mutated cells are selected for abnormal growth and survivability. Here, a computer simulation is used to model ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a common form of non-invasive breast cancer. The simulation uses known histological morphology, cell types, and stochastic cell proliferation to evolve tumorous growth within a duct. The ductal simulation is based on a hybrid cellular automaton design using genetic rules to e each cell’s behavior. The genetic rules are a mutable abstraction that allow us to study the genetic evolution of a cancerous genotype. Our goal is to examine the effects of hereditary genetic predisposition to DCIS incidence and aggressiveness. Results show that we are able to reproduce in vivo pathological features to hereditary forms of breast cancer: earlier incidence and increased aggressiveness. We also show that a contributing factor to the different pathology of hereditary breast cancer results from the ability of progenitor ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2007
• Where: GPEM
• Authors: Armand Bankhead, Robert B. Heckendorn
• Keywords: Breast Cancer, Genetic Rules, GPEM 2007, Hereditary Genetic Predisposition