Mechanistic patient-specific predictive correlation of tumor drug response with microenvironment and perfusion measurements

Jennifer Pascal, Elaine L. Bearer, Zhihui Wang, Eugene J. Koay, Steven A. Curley, Vittorio Cristini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Physical properties of the microenvironment influence penetration of drugs into tumors. Here, we develop a mathematical model to predict the outcome of chemotherapy based on the physical laws of diffusion. The most important parameters in the model are the volume fraction occupied by tumor blood vessels and their average diameter. Drug delivery to cells, and kill thereof, are mediated by these microenvironmental properties and affected by the diffusion penetration distance after extravasation. To calculate parameter values we fit the model to histopathology measurements of the fraction of tumor killed after chemotherapy in human patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to liver (coefficient of determination R2 = 0.94). To validate the model in a different tumor type, we input patient-specific model parameter values from glioblastoma; the model successfully predicts extent of tumor kill after chemotherapy (R2 = 0.7-0.91). Toward prospective clinical translation, we calculate blood volume fraction parameter values from in vivo contrastenhanced computed tomography imaging from a separate cohort of patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to liver, and demonstrate accurate model predictions of individual patient responses (average relative error = 15%). Here, patient-specific data from either in vivo imaging or histopathology drives output of the model's formulas. Values obtained from standard clinical diagnostic measurements for each individual are entered into the model, producing accurate predictions of tumor kill after chemotherapy. Clinical translation will enable the rational design of individualized treatment strategies such as amount, frequency, and delivery platform of drug and the need for ancillary non-drug-based treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14266-14271
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume110
Issue number35
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 27 2013

Keywords

  • Colorectal cancer liver metastasis
  • Contrast CT
  • Glioblastoma multiforme histopathology
  • Mathematical modeling
  • Patient drug response

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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