Understanding the diversity of cancer evolution based on computational simulation
-Constructing a mathematical basis for developing therapeutic strategies against cancer using a supercomputer-
Understanding the diversity of cancer evolution based on computational simulation
―Constructing a mathematical basis for developing therapeutic strategies against cancer using a supercomputer-
PeerJ on April 8, 2020. DOI: DOI 10.7717/peerj.8842
Cancer can be regarded as a disease of evolution, which results from natural selection of cells with high proliferative and malignant potential, following the accumulation of mutations in their genomes. Moreover, because cancer has a high evolutionary potential, it easily adapts to treatment-related changes in its environment and acquires therapeutic resistance (*1),
Previous genomic studies have shown that cancer evolution can be roughly divided into four modes of evolution. However, it has remained unclear what conditions give rise to each mode. Therefore, A research group at The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT) have built a unified evolutionary simulation model that can recapitulate a variety of evolutionary modes.
By performing massively parallel simulation(*2) with various conditions on SHIROKANE, a supercomputer at IMSUT, the research group determined the conditions under which each evolution mode is generated. By providing a mathematical basis for understanding cancer evolution, this study is expected to contribute to the understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Previous genomic studies have shown that cancer evolution can be roughly divided into four modes of evolution. However, it has remained unclear what conditions give rise to each mode. Therefore, A research group at The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo (IMSUT) have built a unified evolutionary simulation model that can recapitulate a variety of evolutionary modes.
By performing massively parallel simulation(*2) with various conditions on SHIROKANE, a supercomputer at IMSUT, the research group determined the conditions under which each evolution mode is generated. By providing a mathematical basis for understanding cancer evolution, this study is expected to contribute to the understanding of therapeutic resistance in cancer and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
(*1) Therapeutic resistance
A phenomenon in which cancer shows resistance to anti-cancer drug therapies. Even If a tumor in an advanced stage responds to a therapy and temporarily shrinks, it almost always regrows by gaining therapeutic resistance.
(*2) Massively parallel simulation
Preforming thousands of simulations simultaneously on a supercomputer. The computing power of SHIROKANE, the supercomputer used in this study, is several thousand times greater than that of a personal computer.
A phenomenon in which cancer shows resistance to anti-cancer drug therapies. Even If a tumor in an advanced stage responds to a therapy and temporarily shrinks, it almost always regrows by gaining therapeutic resistance.
(*2) Massively parallel simulation
Preforming thousands of simulations simultaneously on a supercomputer. The computing power of SHIROKANE, the supercomputer used in this study, is several thousand times greater than that of a personal computer.