Some mathematical aspects of chemotherapy-I: one-organ models.
ResearchPublished 1959
ResearchPublished 1959
The first of a series of papers discussing the qualitative and quantitative aspects of chemotherapy, the treatment of disease through the use of chemical reagents that kill specific types of cells while leaving the patient relatively unpoisoned. Specifically, the series deals with the distribution of a compound in the organs of the body after its injection into the blood stream. The present study considers several simplified mathematical models in which the heart pumps blood to just one organ. It is hoped ultimately to find the characteristics of the most efficacious drugs to use and the manner of their injection. A discussion of models designed to study concentrations of a reagent injected into the blood stream of a relatively simple system consisting of the heart and one organ. Even at this level, there are formidable mathematical problems involving systems of linear and nonlinear parabolic differential equations with time lags in the boundary condition. 27 pp.
This publication is part of the RAND paper series. The paper series was a product of RAND from 1948 to 2003 that captured speeches, memorials, and derivative research, usually prepared on authors' own time and meant to be the scholarly or scientific contribution of individual authors to their professional fields. Papers were less formal than reports and did not require rigorous peer review.
This research in the public interest was supported by RAND using discretionary funds made possible by the generosity of RAND's donors, the fees earned on client-funded research, or independent research and development (IR&D) funds provided by the Department of Defense.
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.