Open AccessMulti‐Type Galton‐Watson Process As A Model For Proliferating Human Tumour Cell Populations Derived From Stem Cells: Estimation of Stem Cell Self‐Renewal Probabilities In Human Ovarian Carcinomas
Author(s) -
Ciampi A.,
Kates L.,
Buick R.,
Kriukov Y.,
Till J. E.
Publication year - 1986
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.1365-2184.1986.tb00723.x
Subject(s) - stem cell , biology , population , ovary , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , medicine , environmental health
. A mathematical model for proliferation of tumour cell populations is developed. the cell population is assumed to be organized in a hierarchy of decreasing proliferative potential and increasing degree of differentiation. Using some elements of the theory of Multi‐type Galton‐Watson processes, a method is proposed for the estimation of P sr , the probability of self‐renewal of tumour stem cells, from the experimental distribution of clonal unit sizes obtained in cell culture studies. Six data sets from patients with advanced adenocarcinorna of the ovary are used to demonstrate the method. Reasonable estimates are obtained, and the theoretical colony size distributions predicted by the model appear to be in good qualitative agreement with the experimental ones, and lend support to a stem cell model of tumour growth. the possible significance of P sr as a prognostic factor is briefly discussed.