Abstract
The cell kinetics of 82 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck were studied by in vivo administration of the thymidine analogue, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd). Ploidy, BrdUrd labelling index (LI), duration of S-phase (Ts), potential doubling time (Tpot) and S-phase fraction (SPF) were measured by flow cytometry on 50 microns paraffin embedded sections. The range of values obtained compared well with other in vivo cell kinetic studies of head and neck cancer. Aneuploid tumours had a significantly higher BrdUrd labelling index and SPF, and a short Tpot than diploid tumours. To validate the use of 50 microns sections for measuring cell kinetic parameters by flow cytometry a comparison of values obtained by 50 microns sections and small blocks of tissue was made. No significant difference was found between the two methods. Reproducibility of values between two consecutive thick sections was also good. We conclude that reproducible cell kinetic measurements can be made in tumour samples using 50 microns sections of BrdUrd labelled tissue.
Highlights
The potential doubling time (Steel & Bensted, 1965) is a measure of the rate of increase in the number of proliferating cells of a tumour
We present preliminary data on the labelling index, duration of S-phase and potential doubling times of 82 squamous cell tumours from the head and neck which form part of a prospective study to determine whether cell kinetic data, in particular the potential doubling time, have any predictive value regarding prognosis and response to treatment
Cell cycle parameters were successfully measured in 82 samples (75%)
Summary
The potential doubling time (Steel & Bensted, 1965) is a measure of the rate of increase in the number of proliferating cells of a tumour. The equation derived by Steel takes account of the non-proliferating cells of a tumour but not cells lost from the cycling pool through death, differentiation or metastasis. The Tpot represents an index of a tumour's capacity to grow and may be a clinically useful parameter. It has been suggested that radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimes can be designed on the basis of Tpot values to optimise therapeutic response for individual patients (Fowler, 1985; Thames et al, 1983; Begg et al, 1990). The clinical application of cell kinetic information requires a technique which generates results rapidly within a day or two of biopsy. The use of tritiated thymidine and autoradiography is unsuitable
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