Testing bronchogenic carcinoma cells for sensitivity to cytostatics in vitro and in cell cultures

: The authors submit the first experience assembled in Czechoslovakia with testing of the sensitivity of bronchogenic carcinoma cells to cytostatics by the HTCA method (Human Tumor Clonogenic Assay). Based on work by A. W. Hamburger, S. L. Salmon and others the authors elaborated their own modification of the method of cell cultivation in a double layer of soft agar, which can be used in small laboratories attached to clinical departments. The sensitivity tests were made in eight bronchogenic carcinomas--four adenocarcinomas and four epidermoid carcinomas. For the tests five cytostatics were used: 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, cis-platinum, vincristine and vinblastine. Because of contamination the results in three tested adenocarcinomas could not be evaluated. The evaluated specimen of adenocarcinoma was sensitive to 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate, but was resistant to the remaining tested cytostatics. In the group of epidermoid carcinomas one specimen was completely resistant and one completely sensitive to all tested cytostatics. In one specimen the test with 5-fluorouracil could not be evaluated, and the specimen was resistant to the remaining cytostatics. The last specimen in this group was resistant to cis-platinum and sensitive to the remaining cytostatics.