Researchers look to maths to understand the immune system and its role in cancer

[Northerner]

Can the patterns in tree branches or the meandering bends in a river provide clues that could lead to better cancer therapies? According to a new study from Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, these self-similar, repeating patterns in nature known as fractals help scientists better understand how the immune system is organized and may one day be used to help improve stem cell transplant outcomes in leukemia patients by predicting the probability of transplant complications.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-05/vcu-rlt043013.php