Chemotherapy Optimization in Leukemia: Selecting the Right Mathematical Models for the Right Biological Processes∗

Clinical chemotherapy dosage strategies for leukemia rely on weight/height calculations theoretically correlated to patient drug tolerance. However, over- and under- dosage still exist in clinical practice, which could be overcome by quantifying the actual fraction of cancer cells susceptible to be eradicated. In this work, we show how choosing models that are accurate enough in simulating the biological processes ultimately affecting drug efficacy is critical in order to disentangle patient to patient heterogeneity. Incorporating heterogeneity from measurable sources in such a manner brings us a step closer in our path towards the development of personalized rational therapies.