A Markov model approach shows a large variation in the length of S phase in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Summary, in English

Background: The potential doubling time of a tumor has been suggested to be a measurement of tumor aggressiveness; therefore, it is of interest to find reliable methods to estimate this time. Because of variability in length of the various cell cycle phases, stochastic modeling of the cell cycle might be a suitable approach. Methods: The relative movement curve and the DNA synthesis time were estimated by using local polynomial regression methods. Further, the rate of nucleotide incorporation was estimated by using a Markov pure birth process with one absorbing state to model the progression of the DNA distribution through S phase. Results: An estimate of the DNA synthesis time, with confidence intervals, was obtained from the relative movement curve. The Markov approach provided an estimate of the distribution of the time to complete S phase given the initial distribution. Using the Markov approach we also made an estimate of the mean number of active replicons during S phase. Conclusions: A Markov pure birth process has shown to be useful to model the progression of cells through S phase and to increase knowledge about the variability in the length of S phase and a large variation is shown.

• Author: Sara Larsson; Maria C Johansson; Stina Oredsson; Ulla Holst
• Department/s: Mathematical Statistics; Breastcancer-genetics; Functional zoology
• Publishing year: 2005
• Language: English
• Pages: 15-25
• Publication/Series: Cytometry Part A
• Volume: 65A
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.20125
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• Topic: Cell and Molecular Biology
• Keywords: Markov pure birth process; flow cytometry; movement; relative; DNA synthesis time; cell cycle kinetics; bromodeoxyuridine; local polynomial; regression
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1552-4930