Table 1 Summary of results and possible interpretation of the applicability of various parametrically heterogeneous models to describing the dynamics underlying tumor dormancy
From: Primary and metastatic tumor dormancy as a result of population heterogeneity
Model | Distr. param. | Escape phase | Expected value of dist. param. | Variance of distr. param. after escape | Interpretation/applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Malthusian | c | rapid | Increases rapidly during escape phase to maximum possible value | Increases rapidly during escape, then returns to zero | Likely not applicable |
Logistic | c | rapid | Increases rapidly during escape phase to sub-maximum value (inv. proportional to variance) | Increases rapidly during escape, then remains at a non-zero value | Primary tumor dormancy |
Allee x c  ' = cx c (l − N)(N − m), | c | gradual | Increases rapidly during escape phase to sub-maximum value (inv. proportional to variance) | Increases rapidly during escape, then remains at a non-zero value | Slowly-growing tumor |
x l  ' = cx l (l − N)(N − m), | l | less gradual | Increases rapidly during escape phase to maximum possible value | Increases rapidly during escape, then returns to zero | Likely not applicable |
x m  ' = cx m (l − N)(N − m), | m | rapid | Increases rapidly during escape phase to sub-maximum value (inv. proportionate to variance) | Increases rapidly during escape, then gradually decreases | Metastatic tumor dormancy |