Matthias Fuchs, Stefan Forster

• We investigate in how far interpolation mechanisms based on the nearest-neighbor rule (NNR) can support cancer research. The main objective is to usethe NNR to predict the likelihood of tumorigenesis based on given risk factors.By using a genetic algorithm to optimize the parameters of the nearest-neighbourprediction, the performance of this interpolation method can be improved sub-stantially. Furthermore, it is possible to detect risk factors which are hardly ornot relevant to tumorigenesis. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that NNR-based interpolation is a simple tool that nevertheless has enough potential to beseriously considered for cancer research or related research.