Enhancement of the transformed shape phenotype by microtubule inhibitors and reversal by an inhibitor combination

Differences between transformed cells and their normal counterparts were de fined by analyzing the cells' three-dimensional distribution of mass. Varia bles called factors, which explained the covariance of the real variables, were extracted from the data. We found that factors #4 (sharp, tapering pro jections) and #12 (rounding up), corresponded to G-protein functions. Then, the signature-type mass distribution of transformed cells was defined by f actor values. Agents that caused signature-type mimicry could quantitativel y shift factor values, for example, those affecting endocytic processing di sproportionately reduced values of #4. Signature-type reversal was also obs erved and may be valuable in predicting the efficacy of chemotherapeutic ag ents.