The embedded tumor: host physiology is important for the interpretation of tumor growth.

The growth potential of a tumour can significantly depend on host features such as age, cell proliferation rates and caloric intake. Although this is widely known, existing mathematical models for tumour growth do not account for it. We therefore developed a new model for tumour growth, starting from a mathematical framework that describes the host's physiology. The resulting tumour-in-host model allowed us to study the implications of various specific interactions between the energetics of tumour and host. The model accounts for the influence of both age and feeding regimen of the host organism on the behaviour of a tumour. Concerning the effects of a tumour on its host, it explains why tumour-mediated body-weight loss is often more dramatic than expected from the energy demands of the tumour. We also show how the model can be applied to study enhanced body-weight loss in presence of cachectic factors. Our tumour-in-host model thus appears a proper tool to unite a wide range of phenomena in tumour-host interactions. © 2003 Cancer Research UK.