A two-stage mutation stochastic model of carcinogenesis driven by a two level random environment

Abstract

In this paper, we present a two-stage stochastic model of carcinogenesis in a two level random environment. The random environment switches between two levels, say, 1 and 2 alternately. When the environment is in level 1, a normal cell either divides into two normal cells or dies; and an intermediate cell divides into two intermediate cells or dies. When the environment is in level 2, a normal cell either divides into two intermediate cells or divides into one normal cell and one intermediate cell or divides into two normal cells or dies; and an intermediate cell either divides into two malignant cells or divides into one intermediate cell and one malignant cell or divides into two intermediate cells or dies. It is assumed that, once a malignant cell is produced, it generates a malignant tumor with probability 1. We obtain the mean numbers of normal, intermediate and malignant cells.