A mathematical model for the effects of HER2 over-expression on cell cycle progression in breast cancer

Bull Math Biol. 2011 Dec;73(12):2865-87. doi: 10.1007/s11538-011-9663-3. Epub 2011 Aug 5.

Abstract

In this paper, we present a mathematical model predicting the fraction of proliferating cells in G1, S, and G2/M phases of the cell cycle as a function of EGFR and HER2. We show that it is possible to find parameters for the mathematical model so that its predictions agree with the experimental observations that HER2 over-expression results in: (1) a shorter G1-phase and early S-phase entry; (2) and that with a 1-to-1 ration between EGFR and HER2, the growth advantage in HER2 over-expressing cells is indeed associated with the increase of the HER2 expression level.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Cycle / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, erbB-2*
  • Humans
  • Mathematical Concepts
  • Models, Biological
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2