Modeling cancer: Researchers prove models can predict cellular processes

A multi-institutional, international team led by Virginia Tech researchers studied cells found in breast and other types of connective tissue and discovered new information about cell transitions that take place during wound healing and cancer.

The results were published in a September issue of the journal Science Signaling.

During development, cells change forms and regroup from tight packs of epithelial cells to more mobile, loose arrays of mesenchymal cells.

The cell changes, known as an epithelial to mesenchymal transition, or EMT, are normal and helpful during wound healing, but problematic when cancer cells spread from the primary tumor site to other sites in the body.

To investigate, researchers developed mathematical models to predict the dynamics of cell transitions, and compared their results with actual measurements of activity in cell populations. As a result, they gained new understanding of how a substance known as transforming growth factor triggers cell transformations.

"Understanding this process is very important to prevent and treat many developmental abnormalities and cancer metastasis," said Jianhua Xing, an associate professor of biological sciences in the College of Science and a Fralin Life Science Institute affiliate.

Researchers found that EMT in the cells "involves a number of double-negative feedback loops functioning as switches," said Zhang. "EMT takes place by sequentially turning on these switches."

Xing explained that the theoretical prediction and experimental studies together confirmed this sequential bistable switch mechanism.

"Many theoretical mathematical models existed to explain the EMT mechanisms," Subbiah said, "but, no conclusive experimental proof was available until now to support these models."