Objectives: Multicellular tumour spheroids (MTS) provide an important tool for study of the micro- scopic properties of solid tumours and their responses to therapy. Thus, observation of large-scale volume oscillations in MTS, reported several years ago by two independent groups (1,2), in our opinion repre- sent a remarkable discovery, particularly if this could promote careful investigation of the possible occur- rence of volume oscillations of tumours ‘in vivo’. Materials and methods: Because of high back- ground noise, quantitative analysis of properties of observed oscillations has not been possible in previ- ous studies. Such an analysis can be now performed, thanks to a recently proposed approach, based on for- malism of phenomenological universalities (PUN). Results: Results have provided unambiguous con- firmation of the existence of MTS volume oscilla- tions, and quantitative evaluation of their properties, for two tumour cell lines. Proof is based not only on quality of fitting of the experimental datasets, but also on determination of well-defined values of fre- quency and amplitude of the oscillations for each line investigated, which would not be consistent with ran- dom fluctuation. Conclusions: Biological mechanisms, which can be directly responsible for observed oscillations, are proposed, which relates also to recent work on related topics. Further investigations, both at experi- mental and at modelling levels, are also suggested. Finally, from a methodological point of view, results obtained represent further confirmation of applicabil- ity and usefulness of the PUN approach.
Oscillations in growth of multicellular tumour spheroids: a revisited quantitative analysis
CHIGNOLA, Roberto;
2010-01-01
Abstract
Objectives: Multicellular tumour spheroids (MTS) provide an important tool for study of the micro- scopic properties of solid tumours and their responses to therapy. Thus, observation of large-scale volume oscillations in MTS, reported several years ago by two independent groups (1,2), in our opinion repre- sent a remarkable discovery, particularly if this could promote careful investigation of the possible occur- rence of volume oscillations of tumours ‘in vivo’. Materials and methods: Because of high back- ground noise, quantitative analysis of properties of observed oscillations has not been possible in previ- ous studies. Such an analysis can be now performed, thanks to a recently proposed approach, based on for- malism of phenomenological universalities (PUN). Results: Results have provided unambiguous con- firmation of the existence of MTS volume oscilla- tions, and quantitative evaluation of their properties, for two tumour cell lines. Proof is based not only on quality of fitting of the experimental datasets, but also on determination of well-defined values of fre- quency and amplitude of the oscillations for each line investigated, which would not be consistent with ran- dom fluctuation. Conclusions: Biological mechanisms, which can be directly responsible for observed oscillations, are proposed, which relates also to recent work on related topics. Further investigations, both at experi- mental and at modelling levels, are also suggested. Finally, from a methodological point of view, results obtained represent further confirmation of applicabil- ity and usefulness of the PUN approach.
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