A stochastic Gompertz model with logarithmic therapy functions: Parameters estimation

This paper is concerned with the estimation of the parameters of interest in the drift coefficient of a stochastic Gompertz model with logarithmic therapeutic functions. The maximum likelihood method produces non-linear equations and the estimation of these parameters, specially of the tumor growth deceleration factor, have only been achieved to date through numerically-based approaches. The proposed method in this paper provides explicit expressions for the parameter estimators which, we shall be able, in future work, to study its statistical properties. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.