Data Analysis in Cell Kinetics Research

Cell kinetics is a science that has as its objective an understanding of how cells mature with time and how they respond to outside influences (e.g., exposure to radiation and drugs). Emphasis is placed on the rates at which these events occur. Consider, for example, the application of cell cycle kinetics in the treatment of cancer. Therapeutic agents currently in use often are not cell-type-specific; they act on normal and abnormal cells indiscriminately. They are, however, often cell-phase-specific, preferentially killing cells that are synthesizing DNA (i.e., in S-phase). For example, the application of the agent (e.g., cytosine arabinoside, ara-C) will kill cells in S-phase, both normal and abnormal. Most of the cells in the body are in a quiescent state, not cycling, and will not be affected by the drug. However, in addition to the cancer cells, a large number of normal cells are in cycle, notably in the gut and bone marrow, and it is these cells that are at risk in therapy. Therapy schedules must be devised that will spare these cells. One method of treatment might utilize the drug ara-C to “synchronize” the cycling cells and to selectively kill cells in S-phase. As a synchronizing agent, ara-C blocks cells at the end of G1-phase by inhibiting the synthesis of DNA.