Clinical value of in vitro drug sensitivity testing based on short-term effects on dna and rna metabolism in ovarian cancer
✍ Scribed by Dr. S. K. Khoo; T. Hurst; M. J. Webb; G. Dickie; J. Kearsley; P. G. Parsons; E. V. Mackay
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1989
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 449 KB
- Volume
- 41
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-4790
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The hypothesis that in vitro chemosensitivity testing could predict clinical outcome was tested in women with ovarian cancer. Short-term drug effects on DNA and RNA metabolism (by inhibition of 3H-thymidine and 'H-uridine incorporation) were measured in primary cultures of tumor cells. In vitro inhibitory effects were found with the four drugs tested: cisplatin, adriamycin, melphalan, and methotrexate. From data based on impaired RNA and/or DNA metabolism ( 2 20% inhibition), correct prediction of "sensitivity" was 79% and that of "resistance" was 84%. An analysis of the predictive value of both assays, used singly or together, revealed a high specificity but moderate sensitivity; the best positive predictive value (94%) was obtained when both RNA and DNA metabolisms were impaired. Our results support the idea that two subsets of patients who are being considered for cytotoxic chemotherapy can be selected: those who may benefit from treatment and those who may not, regardless of the drugs tested in vitro or used in vivo.