Development of an Optimised in vitro System for Measurement of Human Tumour Response to Cytotoxic Agents

Evaluation of the response of tumour tissue to cytotoxic drug therapy is generally retrospective and is based on average results obtained in clinical trials. Individualised therapy is not considered practical because of the complex and often unsatisfactory tests needed to obtain a prospective assessment of likely response. This group has developed a predictive test which can determine the drug cocktails most effective or ineffective in reducing growth of explanted fragments of tumour tissue.Results for 80 assorted gynaecological, urinary and gastric tumours are available and the results are showing close correlation with the observed responses of patients treated empirically according to the established hospital schedules. Data concerning rates of proliferation of surviving tumour cells, induced resistance markers and angiogenic potential have also been obtained for individual tumours, although larger samples are needed to perform these analyses. The test offers a reliable, quick and cost-effective method of optimising therapy to suit individual tumours.