Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: We develop a within-host mathematical model for hepatitis B virus infection that leads to hepatocellular carcinoma incorporating immunotherapy as an intervention strategy and also demonstrating drug effects in the sub-therapeutic, therapeutic and toxicity regions of concentration. The model includes the dynamics of hepatocytes, immune cells, cytokines and hepatitis B virus dynamics using a system of ordinary differential equations. Model parameters were estimated using the flexible modeling environment algorithm. Treatment was presented replicating realistic pharmacokinetics of a drug called Nivolumab as a monoclonal antibody type of immunotherapy. Results suggests that immunotherapy reduces the growth of cancer cells when the drug concentration is in a therapeutic region but complete eradication is not possible. Drug concentration above the therapeutic region reduced the cancer cells to better levels but this benefit is associated with toxicity of the drug. Drug concentration below the therapeutic region is associated with little reduction in cancer cells.
Source: BIOMATH
Authors: Edna Chilenje Manda, Faraimunashe Chirove
Institutions: Mzuzu University, University of Johannesburg
Language: English
Subfield: Modeling and Simulation
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405724724