[In-vitro testing of the sensitivity of mammary carcinoma cells to cytostatic drugs (author's transl)]

Abstract

In-vitro sensitivity to cystostatic agents was tested in 137 cases of breast carcinoma, with 125 tests being analysable. Inhibition of in-vitro incorporation of 3H-uridine or 3H-thymidine into RNA or DNA of the original tumour cells after incubation with antineoplastic substances was used as the index for the in-vivo sensitivity of the tumour. 30% of the carcinoma cells were sensitive in-vitro, 70% resistant. About 75% of sensitive cancers were sensitive against several agents. Cyclophosphamide proved to be most effective in-vitro: it was tested via 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide or 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide. There was a correlation between histological type and in-vitro sensitivity of the cancer, as well as between proliferative activity and in-vitro sensitivity in that proliferation-active tumours were more frequently sensitive in-vitro than proliferation-poor ones. Primary tumours and metastases of the same patient frequently showed different sensitivity. In some cases the development of resistance against cytostatic drugs was demonstrated during treatment. Testing tumours against combinations of cytostatic drugs demonstrated an additive effect of the antineoplastic substances in-vitro.