The investigators propose to develop new innovative approaches for modeling and analyzing carcinogenesis models involving multiple pathways with each pathway being a stochastic multi-stage model and with intermediate initiated cells subjecting to stochastic proliferation and differentiation and genetic and epigenetic changes. The investigators also propose to apply these new innovative approaches to develop carcinogenesis models for some human cancers for assessing risk factors and to develop predictive procedures for these cancers. Specifically, the investigators will apply the methods to develop new stochastic models for human liver cancer because of the importance of this cancer and because of the availability of some precious data for this type of cancer. The investigators note that the similar methododology can be applied to other human cancers as well, which will be investigators' future research.
The investigators study some cancer models for human liver cancer based on the existing data already collected. Such models are considered to follow EPA proposed cancer guidelines (Federal Register 51(85), 33992-34003, 1996). The use of such model is possible because sufficient biological information on the human liver cancer is available. The end result of this research should be useful for cancer prevention and cancer control. The investigators believe that this along with other advances will render many current practices in experimental biology, including many steps of drug development, unnecessary. This will in turn make the drug development process become more productive and efficient.
