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.
Guiot
Caterina
C
Dip. Neuroscience, Universita di Torino, C. Raffaello 30, 10125, Torino, Italy. caterina.guiot@unito.it
Degiorgis
Piero Giorgio
PG
Delsanto
Pier Paolo
PP
Gabriele
Pietro
P
Deisboeck
Thomas S
TS
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