Join the Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics (MAMS) on December 3, 2018 for an Applied Mathematics seminar given by Nara Yoon.  Dr. Yoon will speak on “Mathematical Modeling of Resistance to Anti-Cancer Drugs.”  The seminar will take place in Yost 306, from 3:00–4:00 PM.

Abstract: Cancer treatments, including drug therapies, eventually fail due to the resistance induced by the treatments. In this talk, I will discuss several recent projects about drug resistance. In one project, we explored underlying process of resistance development. It has been conventionally assumed that the evolution of tumor cells (from sensitive to resistant types) occur by a single process of ‘driver’ mutation. However,our experimental data and modeling study do not support this. Instead, we have observed that the effect of the drug seems to change cell types gradually over time. I will talk about this new hypothesis, along with the utilized data,model and analysis. Another topic of interest are effective drug regimens that could prevent or mitigate the onset of resistance. We have focused on sequential application of drugs where resistance to one drug induces sensitivity to another drug, a concept called collateral sensitivity. Based on drug cycles linked by the relationships of collateral sensitivity, we have (i) built a mathematical model, (ii) found the optimal way to switch drugs, and (iii) analyzed clinical meaning and implementation of our optimal therapy, all of which will be discussed in the talk.