Chemosensitivity testing in a tumor acquisition, propagation, and preservation program.

: Chemosensitivity assays were carried out as part of a tumor acquisition, propagation, and preservation program for cancer biotherapy. In addition to biopsy specimens, tumor cells propagated in culture or tumor xenografts grown in nude mice were submitted for chemosensitivity assay when sufficient biopsy material was unavailable. Chemosensitivity was tested utilizing the adhesive tumor cell culture system. A total of 154 specimens was submitted for testing; 96 specimens were assayed. Success rates were 55% for primary cancer biopsies, 67% for metastases, 69% for xenografts, and 70% for cell lines. There were no significant differences evident when the sensitivity to drugs of tumor cells originating from biopsies, xenografts, or tissue culture were compared. Sufficient data were available for 18 patients to compare clinical results of drug treatment with predictive results from the chemo-sensitivity assay. Assay results indicating insensitivity appeared to predict resistance; however, assays indicating sensitivity were not predictive. These results suggest that propagated tumor material, such as xenografts and cultured cell lines, may be useful when biopsy tissue is not available.