Detecting cell proliferation

Cell proliferation is the rapid expansion of a cell population due to growth and division. Accurate measurement of proliferation is crucial in the measurement of cell health. It can be used as a prognostic or diagnostic tool in cancer, can be monitored in drug screenings to assess whether compounds influence proliferation, and is also important in aging, drug resistance, immunology and environment contamination research.

There are various methods available for measuring cell proliferation, including metabolic activity, cell proliferation markers, ATP concentration and DNA synthesis.  Measuring DNA synthesis is often the preferred method among researchers as it offers a high level of precision for detecting changes in cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro.

In this In Focus, we will explore:

• How cell proliferation can be measured via DNA synthesis
• Tips for success in DNA synthesis assays
• How cell proliferation measurements are used for cancer research and drug screenings