THE CELL CYCLE IN TUMOURS: AN EXAMINATION OF DATA GAINED BY THE TECHNIQUE OF LABELLED MITOSES

Published data from a large series of investigations by the technique of labelled mitoses have been analysed using a process of computer simulation. The results of the analyses of tumour data are discussed, first from the point of view of the quality of simulation that can be achieved and secondly as a review of the extent of our knowledge of the intermitotic time of cells in tumours. Particularly in primary tumors the data are often consistent with a broad distribution of intermitotic times within a tumour and the use of the term 'cell cycle time'may be misleading.