Abstract
Cancer is an evolutionary process. Mutated cells
undergo selection for abnormal growth and survival
creating a tumour. We model this process with cellular
automata that use a simplified genetic regulatory
network simulation to control cell behaviour and
predict cancer etiology. Our genetic model gives us the
ability to relate genetic mutation to cancerous
outcomes. The simulation uses known histological
morphology, cell types, and stochastic behavior to
specifically model ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a
common form of non-invasive breast cancer. Using this
model we examine the effects of hereditary
predisposition on DCIS incidence and aggressiveness.
Results show that we are able to reproduce in vivo
pathological features to hereditary forms of breast
cancer: earlier incidence and increased aggressiveness.
We also show that a contributing factor to the
different pathology of hereditary breast cancer results
from the ability of progenitor cells to pass cancerous
mutations on to offspring.
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