DOSE-RESPONSE CURVES FOR AGENTS THAT IMPAIR CELL REPRODUCTIVE INTEGRITY - RELATION BETWEEN DOSE-RESPONSE CURVES AND DESIGN OF SELECTIVE REGIMENS IN CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY

In a simplified model, the fate of growing or steady-state cell populations under a regimen of repeated doses of a cell-sterilizing agent may be predicted from equations containing two types of parameter-(1) those determined by the dose-response curve and the proliferative or recuperative characteristics of the cell populations and (2) those determined by the therapeutic regimen (i.e. size, frequency and number of doses). If the values of the former are known, those of the latter may be adjusted to ensure either destruction or survival of the cell population. Different cell types show different dose-response curves to the same agent and have different proliferative or recuperative rates. Regimens may therefore be chosen that selectively damage one cell population while allowing another in the same individual to survive. The model suggests that, in some circumstances, the fates of two cell populations in the same individual may be reversed by manipulating the therapeutic regimen. © 1969, The British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research. All rights reserved.