Wright's Hypothesis: Its Relation to Volume Growth of Tissue Cells and Mitotic Index

Abstract

To measure the rate of growth of a tumor mass, Wright''s hypothesis may be generalized and applied to the distribution of cell volumes. This use of the hypothesis applies only to a homogenous, dedifferentiated group of cells having uniform growth rate. The mitotic index, m/M, is equal to (e[gamma][TAU] [long dash] 1) where [gamma] is the characteristic growth constant in the tissue volume growth law, v =[image]. The product [gamma][TAU] may be small, and the mitotic index is m/M = [gamma][TAU]. This equation indicates the basis for Wright''s hypothesis if [image] is the number of cells in any one of the stages of mitosis and [TAU] is the time spent by the cell in that stage. [gamma] is a measure of the growth rate and must be assumed to be constant.