A cellular based model of the colon crypt suggests novel effects for Apc phenotype in colorectal carcinogenesis

Authored by Dawn Walker, Tim Ingham-Dempster, Bernard Corfe

Date Published: 2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.jocs.2017.06.013

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer mortality; loss of the Apc gene is an early step in the formation of CRC. A new computational model of the colonic crypt has been developed to simulate the effects of Apc loss. The model includes a region of flat mucosa, which has not previously been considered in the context of Apc loss. The model suggests that Apc loss confers a survival advantage at the crypt mouth which may be a previously unknown method of mutation fixation. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tags

epithelium Migration proliferation differentiation Agent based modelling Cells Organization Death Numbers Monoclonal conversion Colon crypt Apc loss