A decision support system for cancer chemotherapy using genetic algorithms

Cancer chemotherapy is a highly complex process requiring the administration of a cocktail of highly toxic chemicals in a series of doses over the course of a treatment. The Oncology Workbench is a three-tier decision support system running across the World Wide Web. The client is delivered as a Java Applet and is concerned with setting treatment parameters and displaying results. The: server contains a database of treatment information along with intermediate objects for simulation and optimisation of treatments. Treatment optimisation is carried out using genetic algorithms. Evaluation of a given treatment chromosome is achieved by sending treatment information to a separate rumour response simulation object. This object runs a simulation and transmits back data that is used to calculate a fitness for the chromosome. The optimisation object transmits the optimal treatment to a client applet for review by the user. This approach allows the use of different tumour response models and also for the extension of the decision support system to therapy for different diseases, e.g. cardiovascular therapies. The system is currently under trial by a number of clinical groups within the UK.