Cell kinetics of the in vitro metaphase arrest technique and the clinical applications

The in vitro metaphase arrest technique (crypt cell production rate-CPPR) has been used to measure human rectal mucosal proliferation. Study of preincubation times, dose response curves and lag phases suggest that a concentration of vincristine of 5 micrograms/ml and 16 hour preincubation with time point increments between 25 and 125 minutes give optimal conditions for measuring rectal mucosal proliferation. Twenty individuals had rectal CCPR repeated without intervention of any kind. Close correlation was found between the two values (r = 0.89 and P = 0.0001). The effect of polyethylene glycol bowel preparation was also studied in 35 subjects. There was good correlation (r = 0.66, P = 0.007). There was close correlation between rectal and caecal CCPR as measured in 20 patients who had colonoscopy (r = 0.72, P = 0.0003). The in vitro metaphase arrest technique is a useful parameter of rectal mucosal proliferation and may be used with confidence in a number of different clinical situations.