In vivo imaging to initialize a biophysical model of tumor growth: Preliminary results

Recent advances in MRI and PET have increased the availability of noninvasive measurements of the molecular, cellular, and physiological characteristics of tumors. It may be possible to incorporate these measurables into realistic biophysical models that can then be used to predict tumor growth and therapy response on an individual basis. Here we incorporate quantitative imaging data acquired during the course of a tumor development in rat model of glioma. Early measurements are used to initialize and constrain a biophysical model to predict tumor status at later time points. The initial results show a promising ability to use early time point data to predict later time point tumor size, cellularity, and distribution.