Solid tumor models for the assessment of different treatment modalities: I. Radiation-induced changes in growth rate characteristics of a solid tumor model.

A computer program has been developed to quantitatively evaluate changes in tumor growth rates of a solid tumor model (hepatoma 3924A) after a series of radiation doses from 375 R to 3750 R. The computer-derived growth curves are simulated from the volumes of the individual tumors rather than from the mean tumor volume at any specific time point after treatment. The ability to generate data from a family of tumor growth curves permits a more precise evaluation of therapeutic effects on tumors than can be obtained with conventional methods. The quantitative determination of equivalent amounts of radiation needed to produce comparable 5-fluorouracil-induced changes in tumor growth rate has been made. The ability to determine quantitatively radiotherapeutic and chemotherapy equivalents on these solid tumor models has direct implications in regard to our effort to improve the treatment of cancer. At present no specific solid tumor or groups of solid tumors have provided all of the necessary information for clinical utilization in therapeutic scheduling of different forms of cancer treatment. Since solid tumors comprise the majority of human cancer, one of the primary objectives of these studies has been the establishment of a solid tumor model that could serve both as a system for devising improved therapeutic scheduling and for a better understanding of solid tumors.