Dynamics of polyaneuploid cancer cell quiescence under stress

Pancreatic metastatic cancer prompts the aggressive emergence of a subset of cancer cells known as Polyaneuploid Cancer Cells (PACCs) that can become quiescent when confronted with stressors. The quiescent state renders these cells immune to treatments. Mathematical models of cancer treatment have not yet investigated the effect of PACC quiescence on the effectiveness of treatment. In this study, we examine three mathematical models of increasing complexity describing the role of PACCs in tumor growth and treatment. We find that in the absence of treatment, normal cancer cells and PACCs reach equilibrium values that depend on the rate of PACCs formation. During treatment, the presence of PACCs makes it more difficult to eliminate the tumor since the stress of treatment causes cells to move to the quiescent state. This work helps elucidate the role of PACCs in pancreatic cancer.