Fractal dimension of the choriocarcinoma cell invasion front

The Minkowski dimension was calculated for the determination of the invasiveness of cancer cells, which were brought in close contact (confronted) to host tissues and cultivated in vitro. The confrontation cultures were histologically sectioned and stained immunohistochemically. Digital images of these sections were segmented, processed and the specimens’ boundaries were investigated. The invasion front was treated as a fractal. The value of the Minkowski dimension increased with increased invasiveness of the cells. The Minkowski dimension could be used as a quantitative measure for cancer diagnosis.