Flow cytometry: general principles and applications to selected studies in tumor biology

The cell populations derived from normal tissues and solid tumors comprised many different cell types. Within each cell type there is a distribution of cells in different phases of the cell cycle and/or metabolic states (ie, differing rates of protein, RNA, and other macromolecular syntheses). Flow cytometry and companion instrumentation now promise to aid in rapid quantitative analyses of heterogeneous cell populations, thus finding broad applicability in many areas of cancer research and treatment. Since it is projected that this analytical technique will greatly expend our knowledge in tumor biology, it seems appropriate to review the basis principles of the methodology and to demonstrate recent applications in several areas of current research. After reviewing basis principles, a detailed description of one specific flow cytometer, the PHYWE-ICP-22, with its computer interface as developed in this laboratory is described. Subsequently, applications of this methodology to analyses of tumor cell kinetics, assays of blastogenesis, and studies of human colon cancer are presented as specific, current applications of flow cytometry. It is anticipated that this overview of flow cytometry along with some current applications will provide a background understanding for the inevitable rapid future developments in this area of research.