Does tumor growth follow a "universal law"?
A general model for the ontogenetic growth of living organisms has been recently proposed. Here we investigate the extension of this model to the growth of solid malignant tumors. A variety of in vitro and in vivo data are analysed and compared with the prediction of a "universal" law, relating properly rescaled tumor masses and tumor growth times. The results support the notion that tumor growth follows such a universal law. Several important implications of this finding are discussed, including its relevance for tumor metastasis and recurrence, cell turnover rates, angiogenesis and invasion.
Dip. Neuroscience, Universita di Torino, C. Raffaello 30, 10125, Torino, Italy. caterina.guiot@unito.it
Caterina
C
Guiot
Piero Giorgio
PG
Degiorgis
Pier Paolo
PP
Delsanto
Pietro
P
Gabriele
Thomas S
TS
Deisboeck
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D019295:Computational Biology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008954:Models, Biological; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic