New Math Model Reveals Cancer’s Hidden Social Life

Cancer’s inner workings are more complex than we once thought, and Fred Adler, professor and director of the School of Biological Sciences, is using math to unravel the mystery. His research reveals that cancer cells aren’t just lone rebels, but part of an intricate cellular ecosystem.

Adler, who bridges mathematics and biology, has developed a model that challenges traditional cancer theories. Instead of focusing solely on mutations in individual cells, his latest work, which was published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface and Nature Communications, examines how cancer interacts with its surroundings.
“Cancer cells are often thought of as maverick cells that break the rules and by doing so end up damaging or even killing their host,” says Adler. “But cancer cells in fact continue to depend on other cells in their environment to survive, particularly when subjected to the intense stress we place them under with drug treatment.”

This new perspective sheds light on why cancer often strikes later in life, Adler notes. As we age, not only do mutations accumulate, but the body’s ability to keep abnormal growth in check also weakens. Adler’s model shows how these factors work together, opening new possibilities for treatment.

In a surprising twist, Adler’s team discovered that in breast cancer, drug-resistant cells can positively impact the fitness of non-resistant cells. This cellular cooperation complicates treatment but also suggests new ways to outsmart cancer. By viewing cancer through an ecological lens, researchers might develop more effective therapies that target not just the cancer cells, but also their relationships with surrounding tissues, he adds.