Study lead author and PhD student Adam Rhodes (R) and Thomas Hillen (L), professor in the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and a member of the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA). Photo credit: Dawn Graves
A newly developed model explains the role of the immune system in cancer metastasis with implications for both prevention and treatment of the disease, according to new research by University of Alberta mathematicians.
The research examines how the immune system interacts with cancer and how, in some cases, it may help cancer metastasize, or spread, to other areas in the body. "Past research has shown that sometimes, the immune system has the opposite effect of what we might expect," said Thomas Hillen, professor in the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and a member of the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta (CRINA).
"There are many different mechanisms through which this can happen," explained Adam Rhodes, a PhD student studying under Hillen's supervision and lead author on the study. "In general, the tumour tricks the immune system into thinking that it is part of a healthy body system. The immune system can help provide blood supply and growth factors to the tumour. It can fend off other immune cells from damaging the cancer, allowing it to spread."
The pair analyzed hundreds of studies on many different types of cancer. Following this, Hillen and Rhodes developed a mathematical model that can explain the mechanisms through which the immune system can support metastasis-and give insight into how to prevent and treat the disease.
"For example, our research suggests that inflammation and injury can contribute to cancer metastasis," added Rhodes. "So, it is justified to study the effect of anti-inflammatory treatments on metastasis."
While the research team does not work directly with patients, their work building this mathematical model has the potential to add valuable insight and information into clinical practice.
"Mathematics is the only way to combine the vast number of studies done on cancer into one, cohesive framework," said Hillen. "This model applies to many different kinds of cancer-from prostate cancer to breast cancer to lung cancer. Without a tool for analyzing all these data from studying myriad types of cancer, it is difficult to move forward."
The paper, "A Mathematical Model for the Immune-Mediated Theory of Metastasis," was published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology (doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.109999).