Analysis of anticancer efficiency of combined fractionated radiotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy via mathematical modelling

Abstract

Abstract One of the relatively new modalities in treatment of cancer is antiangiogenic therapy (AAT), which stops the formation of new blood vessels, thus leading to nutrient deprivation of a tumor. It has been discovered that it can cause transient alleviation of intratumoral hypoxia, which has induced interest in investigation of its combination with radiotherapy (RT), since presence of oxygen stimulates efficiency of the latter. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown ambiguous results concerning such combined treatment, indicating a need for theoretical investigation. For that purpose, we have developed a spatially-distributed mathematical model of tumor growth and combined RT with AAT. Model simulations in a physiologically justified range of parameters suggest that outcome of addition of AAT to RT should depend on the tumor radiosensitivity: under its low values, when RT de facto serves as a palliative therapy, inclusion of AAT may prolong patient’s survival; however, under high tumor radiosensitivity, AAT may compromise curative effect of RT.