Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Understanding tumor cell growth in pets - methods and findings
By Madewell, B R·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2001·Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cellular proliferation in tumors: a review of methods, interpretation, and clinical applications.
Plain-English summary
This review looks at how scientists measure the growth of cancer cells in pets, which is an important sign of tumors. Most research has focused on specific tests that look for markers in the cells to understand how quickly they are growing and how that relates to the type of tumor and its behavior. While some studies have found useful connections between these growth measurements and how tumors behave or respond to treatment, others have not shown any clear links. New methods are now available that could help identify problems in the way cancer cells grow more accurately. Overall, the findings suggest that while there are useful tools for understanding tumor growth, their effectiveness can vary depending on the type of tumor.
Abstract
Cellular proliferation with altered control is one of the 1st characteristics of a neoplastic cell population. Although tumor growth reflects both tumor cell replication and cell loss (opposing growth and antigrowth factors), most studies published in veterinary literature used immunohistochemistry (proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]; Ki-67 [MIB-1]) or staining for argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) to measure proliferation. These studies have appeared in the veterinary literature for more than a decade, describing associations between proliferation indices and histologic grade, biological behavior, and clinical outcome for some tumor types but no clinically relevant associations for other tumors. The results of these studies are summarized here. Methods for evaluation of the numerous regulatory proteins that direct the cell throughout its cycle are now available and should allow more precise identification of cellular aberrations in cancer.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11467590/