Maxim Kutnetsov. City of Hope National Medical Center

Sala Juntas E.T.S.I.Industriales, 13:00h.

Optimization of external beam and targeted radiotherapy: insights from mechanistic mathematical modeling 

Optimization of radiotherapy is a crucial problem in oncology, given its widespread use and applicability to the vast majority of tumors. Like any cancer treatment, radiotherapy is a double-edged sword. Its straightforward intensification increases the probability of cancer cure at the expense of increased risk and severeness of adverse effects. However, for prolonged therapy a proper modification of treatment scheme can optimize it by increasing the efficacy-to-toxicity ratio.  

The methods of radiotherapy optimization can be suggested by mechanistic mathematical modeling, based on explicit consideration of physical, chemical, and biological processes. Such type of modeling allows formulating optimal control problems, which solutions yield conclusions that eventually can be integrated into clinical decision-making pipeline.  

This talk will focus on two radiotherapy settings. The first of them is external beam fractionated radiotherapy of a solid tumor. For this setting, mathematical modeling suggests that alternated fractionation protocols and proper spatial redistribution of irradiation can provide increased tumor cure probability by taking advantage of the factors that govern non-uniform distribution of cells and their radiosensitivity.  

The second considered setting is targeted radionuclide therapy of blood cancer. This modality is based onintravenous injections of cancer-specific antibodies conjugated with radioactive isotopes. Mathematical modeling exposes inherent restrictions compromising the curative potential of this modality and suggests strategies for increasing its efficacy, based on the enhanced exposure of yet undamaged cancer cells to the newly injected doses of radioconjugates