Mathematical Biology Offers New Strategies Against Cancer Drug Resistance

Professor Philip Maini uses mathematics to understand how cancer cells behave.

His models study how tumours grow and receive oxygen.

They also explore how different cancer treatments might work together.

Some cancer cells can resist medicines and survive treatment.

If all sensitive cells are removed, resistant cells may grow more easily.

Adaptive therapy tries to keep some sensitive cells alive.

These cells can compete with and help control resistant cells.

Mathematical models let researchers compare many treatment plans before testing them with patients.

Maini hopes this work will lead to treatments that improve patient outcomes.