Growth Kinetics of Tumours

Abstract

This book reviews a workshop held in Geneva in 1977 to discuss the pathogenesis of human breast cancer in relation to hormonal status, immunologic status and possible viral aetiology. Approaches to breast-cancer screening were also discussed in the light of known epidemiological data. In addition, growth rate in association with hormonal receptor status, and the more general topic of the preferred experimental animal systems for the study of human breast cancer were discussed in some detail. The contributors represent a formidable array of experts within their own fields in relation to breast cancer, and this is reflected in the quality of the review and subsequent discussion. Overall, this short booklet, with its excellent bibliography, represents a concise summary of present-day biological thinking in the development of human breast cancer, and points to future areas of potential interest in viral and hormonal pathogenesis and host immuno-reactivity. A good feature of this book is that its author is realistic, always ready to admit that tumour-cell kinetics are not yet the saviour of the cancer therapist. Particularly welcome is that the author is always careful to examine the problems, both practical and theoretical, is constantly aware of the danger of intro-lucing artefact, and makes clear and precise statements of his use of often ambiguous terminology. A glossary of terms at the end is a valuable appendix. On the whole it is well written and in good English, though there is a disturbing number of uncorrected printer's errors. From the outset Steel makes clear that frequently passaged transplanted tumours are of very doubtful value in analysing the relationship of tumour-cell kinetics to cancer treatment. Consequently, a large part of the book is devoted to reviewing the kinetics of human and primary experimental tumours. In a logical and incisive manner, the chaotic mass of the results emerges. The author maintains some optimism, but concludes that "Until progress has been made in refining cell-kinetic measurements, it is much too early to assess their potential impact on treatment". Demonstrations of the virtual impossibility of measuring tumour growth-rate, the gross variations in inter-mitotic times in tumour cells, problems in measuring growth fraction and cell-loss factors, all add weight to the validity of both this statement and another: "unrewarding to attempt to predict. .. on the basis of... labelling index, growth fraction or cell cycle-time". Steel is at his happiest when he can enlist the aid of mathematics, and …