title: Evaluation of the growth rate of MCF-7 breast cancer multicellular spheroids using three mathematical models.
abstract: Growth data on 60 multicellular spheroids of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were fitted, on an individual basis, by the Gompertz, Bertalanffy and logistic equations. MCF-7 spheroids, initiated and grown in medium containing oestrogens, exhibited a growth rate that decreased continuously as spheroid size increased. Plots of spheroid volume v. time generated sigmoid curves that showed an early portion with an approximately exponential volume increase; a middle region or retardation phase characterized by a continuously decreasing growth rate; and, finally, a late segment or plateau phase approaching zero growth rate, that permitted an estimate of the maximum spheroid size (Vmax). Growth curves generated by MCF-7 spheroids under different experimental conditions (hormones, drugs and radiation exposures) can be compared after normalization. Linearized forms of the fitted Gompertz curves provided a convenient way to express differences in growth rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villalobos
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elvira
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz de Almodóvar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pedraza
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003470:Culture Media; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004967:Estrogens