Using Mathematics to Understand Cancer.
April 7th, 11:30 AM, CR Campus
Lisette de Pillis, Mathematician, Harvey Mudd College
Lisette de Pillis is a mathematician at Harvey Mudd College, and she 
comes to College of the Redwoods on Friday, April 7, to present Using Mathematics to Understand Cancer.
The talk begins at 11:30 am in the Physical Science building, room
PS113, and will conclude by 12:30 pm. A short description of the talk
follows.
The mathematical modeling of cancer growth and treatment is one that does not admit only narrow knowledge, but requires skills from multiple disciplines. This field of study lies at the intersection of biology and medicine, with mathematics at the core.
Cancer development and the dynamics of the immune system have been a 
significant
focus of mathematical modeling in recent decades. Immunotherapy, a
treatment approach that enhances the body's natural ability to fight
cancers, is becoming increasingly prevalent in many multi-stage
treatment programs that also include chemotherapy, radiation, and
surgery. The critical importance of the immune system in combating
cancer has been verified both clinically and through mathematical
models.
In this talk we will discuss both the biological and mathematical sides of the question of how cancer grows, how the cancer interacts with the immune system, and new treatment approaches that harness the power of the immune system.
