Tumor Chemosensitivity Assay in Colorectal Cancer

Purpose. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro tumor chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer and to compare the results with the efficacy of clinical chemotherapy. Methods. Tumor cells were isolated and cultured from surgically excised specimens from colorectal cancer patients. After confluence of primary culture, tumor cells were detached from the culture dish and identified by morphological and immunocytochemical studies. The microculture tetrazolium test (MTT assay) was used to determine the in vitro tumor chemosensitivity. Results. During the past five years, tumor cells were isolated and cultured from 58 cases with colorectal cancer. Tumor cell cultures were established in 38 cases. The dose-effect of four anticancer drugs (5FU, mitomycin, adriamycin and cisplatin) was determined in 37 cultures. The in vitro chemosensitivity assay sensitive rate was: 5-Fu, 28.6%; adriamycin, 20.7%; mitomycin, 21.4%; cisplatin, 37.4%. The clinical effect of chemotherapy was evaluated in eight cases and compared with the in vitro chemosensitivity assay. There were 2 true-positive cases,5 true-negative cases and 1 false-positive cases. The overall accuracy of in vitro chemosensitivity assay in our group was 87.5%. Conclusions. The results of the present study indicate that the in vitro chemosensitivity assay might give useful information to assist in the management of colorectal cancer patients.