[CITATION][C] Genetic Studies of the Relationship of Tumour–Host Cells: Effect of Tumour Cells killed by X-rays upon the Growth of Admixed Viable Cells

L Revesz - Nature, 1956 - nature.com
L Revesz
Nature, 1956nature.com
TUMOURS irradiated with isublethal X-ray doses can be schematically considered as
containing two kinds of tumour cells, differing in their prospective genotype reproductive
potentialities. One fraction has been damaged irreversibly so as to lose the ability for
continued reproduction. These cells may die immediately or after a number of cell
divisions1• Another part of the cell population is composed of cells undamaged or damaged
in a reversible way, and still capable of multiplying serially without restraint. The relative …
TUMOURS irradiated with isublethal X-ray doses can be schematically considered as containing two kinds of tumour cells, differing in their prospective genotype reproductive potentialities. One fraction has been damaged irreversibly so as to lose the ability for continued reproduction. These cells may die immediately or after a number of cell divisions1• Another part of the cell population is composed of cells undamaged or damaged in a reversible way, and still capable of multiplying serially without restraint. The relative proportion of these two fractions is probably related to the X-ray dose, the inherent sensitivity of the cells and to various environmental conditions during irradiation. Very little is known about the potential influence that the lethally damaged population may exert on the continued proliferation of the surviving fraction, either directly or through the host organism. It is conceivable that the dying cells may stimulate the growth of tho survivors in a variety of ways; but it is equally possible that they inhibit them by toxic products or as a result of the intense local inflammatory reaction they induce in the host. The problem was approached experimentally by mixing irreversibly damaged and viable mouse tumour cells in various proportions. Two ma. in tumour types were used. The first group includes neoplasms that a. rose spontaneously or have been induced by carcinogens in mice of highly inbred strains or in F 1 hybrids produced by crossing two inbred strains. These tumours were used after a single generation of transfer into mice of the original genotype. Another category is represented by·. the Ehrlich ascites tumour that originated in a mouse of
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