Examining Drug Resistant versus Sensitive Tumor Cell Populations with Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Mathematics
Faculty Mentor
Kristen Abernathy, Ph.D., and Zachary Abernathy, Ph.D
Abstract
Drug resistance, also known as multidrug resistance (MDR), is the leading cause of chemotherapy failure in treating cancer. This drug resistance in cancer cells can be transferred from resistant cancer cells to sensitive cancer cells. Sensitive cancer cells can become resistant through three main methods: via direct cell-to-cell contact with resistant cancer cells, through a membrane, or through exposure to the treatment drug. In our project, we take into account the transfer of drug resistance from resistant to sensitive cancer cells via direct cell-to-cell contact. We then introduce an immune response and chemotherapy, and establish conditions on treatment parameters in the resulting system to ensure a globally stable cure state. We conclude with evidence of a limit cycle and conjecture the existence of a Hopf bifurcation.
Previously Presented/Performed?
Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Symposia, Winthrop University, June and September 2017; Regional Mathematics and Statistics Conference, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, November 2017
Grant Support?
Supported by an SC INBRE grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH-NIGMS)
Start Date
20-4-2018 4:00 PM
Examining Drug Resistant versus Sensitive Tumor Cell Populations with Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy
West 219
Drug resistance, also known as multidrug resistance (MDR), is the leading cause of chemotherapy failure in treating cancer. This drug resistance in cancer cells can be transferred from resistant cancer cells to sensitive cancer cells. Sensitive cancer cells can become resistant through three main methods: via direct cell-to-cell contact with resistant cancer cells, through a membrane, or through exposure to the treatment drug. In our project, we take into account the transfer of drug resistance from resistant to sensitive cancer cells via direct cell-to-cell contact. We then introduce an immune response and chemotherapy, and establish conditions on treatment parameters in the resulting system to ensure a globally stable cure state. We conclude with evidence of a limit cycle and conjecture the existence of a Hopf bifurcation.
