The evolution of tumor metastasis during clonal expansion with alterations in metastasis driver genes

摘要: Metastasis is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Carcinoma generally initiates at specific organ as primary tumor, but eventually metastasizes and forms tumor sites in other organs. In this report, we developed mathematical model cancer progression with alterations metastasis-related genes. cases which cells acquire metastatic ability through two steps genetic alterations, derive formulas for the probability, expected number, distribution number metastases. Moreover, investigate practical pancreatic disease both one are responsible formation. Importantly, formula survival outcome validated using clinical data well direct simulations. Our provides theoretical insights into how invisible metastases distribute upon diagnosis respect to growth rates, (epi)genetic alteration rate, detection size. Prediction importance terms determining therapeutic strategies.