A comprehensive modeling procedure for the human granulopoietic system: detailed description and application to cancer chemotherapy

A mathematical modeling procedure which links the known phases of granulocyte kinetics is developed. The procedure is comprehensive enough so that it can be used to analyze the implications at the clinical level of events occuring at the cellular level. A computer simulation that incorporates the concepts and experimental data of the model is described in detail. This simulation is used to study the pattern of leukopenia seen in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. In particular, the relationship between the drug effect on marrow cells and the ensuing pattern of leukopenia in the peripheral blood is analyzed in detail.