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Rates of growth of human neoplasms: Part II
J S Spratt1, J S Meyer, J A Spratt
1Department of Surgery, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40202, USA.
Journal of Surgical Oncology
|January 1, 1996
Summary
This study details human cancer growth rates, revealing that most tumor growth curves decelerate over time, with significant natural variance observed, particularly in breast cancer. Understanding these growth dynamics is crucial for predicting cancer behavior.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Mathematical Biology
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Early research focused on mathematical models for neoplasm growth.
- Cytokinetic measurements like mitotic index and labeling indices were explored in relation to tumor doubling time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present cumulative observations on the actual doubling times of various human cancers.
- To analyze the relationship between multiple primary cancers and their growth rates.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of data on tumor volume doubling times for diverse neoplasms.
- Analysis of growth curves, with a focus on breast cancer data.
Main Results:
- Observed actual doubling times for pulmonary metastases, primary lung cancers, sarcomas, melanomas, and more.
- Breast cancer exhibits a decelerating growth curve with substantial natural variance.
Conclusions:
- Understanding human cancer growth rates is fundamental to comprehending the clinical spectrum of cancer behavior.
- Cancer growth is characterized by decelerating curves and significant inter-tumor variability.
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