Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
05:30
Clonogenic Assay: Adherent Cells
Published on: March 13, 2011
Clonogenic potential of human tumors. A hypothesis
Acta Radiologica. Oncology
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Researchers found fewer cancer-causing cells in head and neck tumors than previously thought. This suggests that radiation therapy and chemotherapy may need to destroy fewer cells for effective tumor control.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Cancer Biology
Background:
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are common cancers.
- Conventional radiation therapy is a primary treatment modality.
- Estimating the number of clonogenic cells is crucial for treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the number of clonogenic cells in medium-sized (2-5 cm) head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
- To compare these estimates with commonly assumed numbers of clonogenic cells.
- To inform radiation therapy and chemotherapy treatment strategies.
Main Methods:
- Pooled data from conventional radiation therapy of head and neck tumors.
- Generated a local control versus dose curve.
- Estimated the number of clonogenic cells based on the dose-response curve.
Main Results:
- Calculations indicated a significantly smaller number of clonogenic cells in these tumors than typically assumed.
- This suggests that only a small fraction of tumor cells may be responsible for tumor growth and resistance.
Conclusions:
- Human tumors may contain a smaller proportion of clonogenic cells than previously believed.
- The number of cells requiring destruction for tumor control might be lower than current estimates.
- This finding could lead to revised treatment protocols for head and neck cancers.
More Related Videos
09:43Primary Orthotopic Glioma Xenografts Recapitulate Infiltrative Growth and Isocitrate Dehydrogenase I Mutation
Published on: January 14, 2014
09:29Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
Related Concept Videos
02:18Cancer
Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
02:21Cancers Originate from Somatic Mutations in a Single Cell
Cancer arises from mutations in the critical genes that allow healthy cells to escape cell cycle regulation and acquire the ability to proliferate indefinitely. Though originating from a single mutation event in one of the originator cells, cancer progresses when the mutant cell lines continue to gain more and more mutations, and finally, become malignant. For example, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) develops initially as a non-lethal increase in white blood cells, which progressively...
01:33Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
02:43Mouse Models of Cancer Study
Mice have long served as models for studying human biology and pathology because of their phylogenetic and physiological similarity with humans. They are also easy to maintain and breed in the laboratory, and hence, many inbred strains are now available for research. Studies on mice have contributed immeasurably to our understanding of cancer biology.
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...
01:05Cancer-Critical Genes II: Tumor Suppressor Genes
Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
01:25Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...