Open AccessA CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE USE OF VINCRISTINE (VCR) AS A TUMOUR CELL SYNCHRONIZING AGENT IN CANCER THERAPY
Author(s) -
Camplejohn R. S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2184.1980.tb00471.x
Subject(s) - synchronizing , vincristine , metaphase , cell synchronization , cell , synchronization (alternating current) , cell cycle , cancer research , cancer therapy , cancer cell , biology , medicine , cancer , computer science , chemotherapy , genetics , cyclophosphamide , telecommunications , computer network , channel (broadcasting) , transmission (telecommunications) , chromosome , gene
Vincristine (VCR) has been used clinically in so‐called ‘tumour cell synchronization therapy schedules'. These schedules are based on the assumption that cells, arrested in metaphase by low doses of VCR, subsequently re‐enter the proliferative cycle synchronously. However, the evidence that tumour cell synchrony can be achieved under clinical conditions or that ‘cell synchronization therapy schedules’ yield a better therapeutic response than other efficient combination schemes, is scanty. Further, even in experimental systems, the efficacy of VCR as a cell synchronizing agent is disputed. Indeed, in some systems, cells arrested in metaphase by low doses of VCR, do not re‐enter a normal proliferative cycle at all following arrest. In addition, the complex nature of the VCR—tumour interaction and the heterogeneous nature of the tumour cell populations against which it is used augurs badly for the successful application of cell synchronization therapy schedules.