Mathematical Modeling of Normal and Cancer Stem Cells

Purpose of Review: Stem cells are fundamental to tissue maintenance and repair; they also play a critical role in cancer development and in determining the outcomes of cancer treatment. This review explores recent mathematical and computational models that address stem cell dynamics in the context of normal tissue regulation and cancer. Recent Findings: Quantitative approaches have yielded significant insight into the processes of tissue regulation in normal hierarchically organized tissues. Modeling of cancer stem cells has also illuminated important mechanisms involved in cancer initiation and progression. In particular, mathematical studies have been instrumental to our current understanding of the role of stem cells in cancer therapy, resistance, and relapse. Summary: The use of quantitative methods to understand stem cell behavior has greatly expanded in recent years. In the future, mathematics will be an increasingly important and necessary tool necessary to fully unravel the complexity of stem cell dynamics. © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG.