Strange Attraction

Cancer often develops from healthy cells when a genetic mutation gives them altered traits. These 'hallmarks of cancer' include the ability to invade tissues, become self-sufficient and avoid self-destruction or apoptosis. Each cancerous cell in a tumour can have a different makeup of these hallmarks. Taking an abstract approach to this chaotic puzzle, this expressionist painting represents the mathematical values of these properties as looping lines – the further from the 'healthy' centre of the picture, the more prominent the cancerous trait. The overall pattern of coloured swirls, known as a strange attractor in chaos theory, highlights the individual and unpredictable nature of cancer. Scientists are exploring the underlying maths of cancer for clues to personalised medicines – combination chemotherapies that might tackle hallmarks unique to each patient’s disease.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Artwork by Dhruba Deb, Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
• Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
• Copyright held by Dhruba Deb ©2016. Reproduced with permission.
• Profile published in PNAS, January 2018