Exact representations for tumour incidence for some density-dependent models

Abstract

Carcinogenesis is a multistage random process involving generic changes and stochastic proliferation and differentiation of normal cells and genetically altered stem cells. In this paper, we present the probability of time to tumour onset for a carcinogenesis model wherein the cells grow according to a birth and death process with density-dependent birth and death rates. This is achieved by transforming the underlying system of difference equations which results in a continued fraction. This continued fraction approach helps us to find the complete solutions. The popular Moolgavkar-Venzon-Knudson (MVK) model assumes constant birth, death, and transition rates.