A cell-based model approach to radiation-induced breast cancer development

Abstract

Epidemiological studies, e.g., on atomic bomb survivors, have shown that exposure to ionizing radiation increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Typically, these studies correlate intrinsic and extrinsic contributing factors with the observed cases of breast cancer in a defined population. In this study, we attempt to model these relationships at the cellular level. For this, a nine-stage model of the epithelial cells in the milk ducts is developed, considering transition probabilities between the stages. As a proof of principle, the transition probabilities between the stages of our model are fit for scenarios with and without exposure to ionizing radiation. Although this model simplifies the complex interactions of external and internal factors and diverse cell types, we believe that these methods can be used to understand carcinogenesis from a different perspective.