[Application of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody for the analysis of tumor cell kinetics by flow cytometry].

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) is a thymidine analogue which is incorporated into the cells of DNA synthetic phase. BrdU-labeling index (BrdU-LI) of tumor cells can be estimated with an anti-BrdU antibody. Bivariate distributions of BrdU and DNA content are simultaneously obtained by flow cytometric two parameter analysis with a double staining method. The exact DNA synthetic cells are determined using this method by removal of the cells having S phase DNA content without DNA synthesis; quiescent (S0) cells. Once the BrdU-LIs are obtained, DNA synthesis time (Ts) and other time parameters of tumor cell kinetics can be calculated by mathematical methods. BrdU and anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody makes it possible to easily and rapidly recognize the tumor cell kinetics with high accuracy.