Cell growth simulations predicting polyclonal origins for 'monoclonal' tumors.
Studies showing the clonal identity of various tumors have led to the belief that most tumors originate from a single cell. It is shown by Monte Carlo computer simulations that monoclonality can evolve from minor differences either in cell cycle time or in the probability of cell death in a polyclonal 'founder' population. If cells divide continuously without cell death (exponential clonal growth), a triclonal population with three starting cells (cell cycle times 0.9 days, 1 day and 1.1 days) converges to near-monoclonality in 100 generations. For cell cycle times of 0.9 days, 1.1 days and 1.1 days, and cell death probabilities of 0.45 and 0.46, populations tend toward monoclonality while the tumor is still small (less than 3 mm3).
Department of Pathology, Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine 21218-2108.
G W
GW
Moore
J J
JJ
Berman
D002453:Cell Cycle; D016923:Cell Death; D002455:Cell Division; D003198:Computer Simulation; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*