Cell Kinetics and Human Melanoma

Abstract

There are many reasons for studying cell cycle and population kinetics in normal cell renewal systems and tumors. In the first place, a large fraction of malignant tumors in man occurs in tissues that are engaged in continuous cell renewal or division — such as gastrointestinal and urogenital tract, the skin and bone marrow [1]. In addition, many aspects of a tumor’s responses to cancer therapy have a direct kinetics basis. The choice of anticancer drug or dose schedule for radiotherapy, and the rate of tumor shrinkage or regrowth are somewhat dependent on the cell kinetics events occurring in normal and tumor tissues, and an understanding of the effects of the drugs and radiation on these kinetics parameters [2–5]. There are many excellent review papers and texts on cell and population kinetics which discuss specific techniques, problems and theories. Since we will not discuss these areas in detail the reader is directed to the following references [6–9]. It will be the purpose of this chapter: (a) to define cell kinetics in general terms; (b) to describe specific cell kinetics properties of human melanomas; and (c) to demonstrate and suggest ways in which cell kinetics data may be used to design and test more effective treatment protocols.