Does tumor growth follow a universal law?

[摘要] 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. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[发布日期] 2003-11-21

[关键词] tumor growth kinetics;tumor therapy;methametical modelling;universal law;metastasis;angiogenesis;invasion