The tumour-tetanus phenomenon as a basis for computation of cell kinetic parameters of tumour growth
Schmidt, W.; Schneeweiss, U.; Fabricius, E.M.
Archiv für Geschwulstforschung 52(1): 29-40
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-911X PMID: 7044338 Document Number: 196603
A mathematical model is described which explains the basis of the biological specificity of the tumor-tetanus phenomenon. The main postulate of the model concerns a mitosis-controlled clostridial growth, based on the experimental and mathematical demonstration that clostridia are stimulated by the dividing tumor cells. The parameters which describe the kinetics of the pacemaker cells of the host can be deduced from the experimental tetanus lethality curves of the animals. Using these mathematical parameters simulated curves are obtained which excellently fit the experimental test results. The pacemaker mechanism is the prerequisite of a specific clostridium-tumor assay using serological methods with atoxic non-oncolytic clostridial strains as test microbes.