[The rate of tumor growth and cell loss in cervical cancer]

Time of tumor volume doubling, mitotic index and share of pathologic mitoses were identified in 61 patients with squamous-cell cervical tumors and the importance of cell loss evaluated. Tumor doubling time ranged 58-1500 days (average 314 +/- 37); mitotic index--0.1-3.7% (average 1.07 +/- 0.07%); percentage of pathologic mitoses 1-89% (average 28.9 +/- 1.6%); cell loss--92.0-99.9% (average 98.2 +/- 0.2%). Cell loss was found to be significantly different in groups of patients characterized by different rates of tumor growth and was directly proportional to tumor doubling time. There were no significant differences in mitotic index or pathologic mitosis share in groups with different rates of tumor growth. It is suggested that cell loss is determined by the tumor-bearer's antitumor systems to a considerable degree.