Cancer: calculated treatment

Abstract

Mathematical modelling linked with patient data suggests that combination therapy is more effective than sequential treatment at preventing drug resistance in cancer. This predictive approach may pave the way for personalized therapies.

Figure 1. Single-drug versus combination therapy

a, During therapy with one drug alone, a cell that acquires a mutation that confers resistance to that drug will be at a proliferative advantage. By the time this is recognized and treatment with a second drug is started, it is likely that a cell resistant to both drugs will already have emerged. b, Starting therapy with both drugs simultaneously means that cells acquiring single resistance will be immediately eliminated by the other drug. Bozic et al. use mathematical modelling to show that this approach increases the chance of effective treatment.