| Abstract: |
| We provide a physical and quantitative approach to cancer. We consider cancer as a state of the underlying gene networks. The stability of the cancer state can be characterized by the depth of the basin of the attraction, or more precisely the barrier or the time to escape from the cancer basin. We explore the underlying landscape for the underlying gene networks to reveal the presence of normal, premalignant and cancer states. We uncover the relationship and switching among these states as well as the underlying biological implications. The interplay between the cancer and development will also be explored. Finally the relationship between the cancer and immune responses will be investigated. Our study shows certain key genes and gene regulations in determining the cancer progresses. This facilitates the drug discovery from the network medicine perspectives. |
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