Use of tissue culture in predictive testing of drug sensitivity in human ovarian cancer. Correlation between in vitro results and the response in vivo

The present work uses an in vitro test model to measure the sensitivity of human ovarian cancer cells to Melphalan and Melphalan combined with Adriamycin. With this model we studied the possible correlation between the in vitro results and the response to these cytostatic drugs in vivo. Cancer cells from 20 patients with advanced ovarian cancer were tested. The in vitro effects of the drugs were measured as differences in incorporation of labeled 3H-thymidine in drug containing tubes and in control tubes. The effects of the drugs on the different cancer cells varied greatly from strong sensitivity to resistance. In vitro and in vivo results were compared one year after start of patient treatment. The overall agreement was 16/20, 80%. The in vitro method thus estimates a tumor cell characteristic which has a biological meaning also in in vivo conditions.