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Oscillating growth patterns of multicellular tumour spheroids
R Chignola1, A Schenetti, E Chiesa
1Istituto di Immunologia e Malattie Infettive, Università di Verona, Italy. chignola@borgoroma.univr.it
Cell Proliferation
|June 17, 1999
Summary
Multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) exhibit periodic growth fluctuations, challenging traditional models. Cloned cell lines show distinct growth kinetics compared to polyclonal ones, revealing complex 3D tumor growth patterns.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) are used as 3D tumor models.
- Traditional continuous growth models may not fully capture MTS growth dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the growth kinetics of 9L (rat glioblastoma) and U118 (human glioblastoma) MTS.
- To identify periodic fluctuations and differences in growth patterns between cloned and polyclonal cell-derived MTS.
Main Methods:
- Non-linear least square fitting of growth curves using the Gompertz equation.
- Power spectrum analysis of residuals to detect periodicities in MTS volume changes.
Main Results:
- Residuals from growth curve fitting were non-random, indicating periodic fluctuations.
- All analyzed MTS growth curves showed at least one dominant frequency, confirming volume oscillations.
- Significant differences in growth kinetics were observed between MTS derived from cloned and polyclonal 9L cells.
Conclusions:
- MTS growth exhibits time-dependent periodic fluctuations, not accurately described by simple continuous models.
- Tumor growth in 3D cell cultures is more complex than previously assumed.
- Cellular heterogeneity (cloned vs. polyclonal) impacts MTS growth kinetics.