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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Anticancer Metal Complexes: Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation by the MTT Assay
Published on: November 10, 2013
Interference by anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents in the MTT-tumor chemosensitivity assay
Engin Ulukaya1, Mukaddes Colakogullari, Edward J Wood
1University of Uludag, School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Bursa, Turkey. eulukaya@uludag.edu.tr
Background:
One of the major goals of oncology is to predict the response of patients with cancer to chemotherapeutic agents by employing laboratory methods variously called 'tumor chemosensitivity assays', 'drug response assays', or 'drug sensitivity assays', in vitro. The MTT assay is one of the methods used to predict the drug response in malignancies. However, it may suffer from interference by the anticancer drugs with the MTT assay.
Methods:
The MTT assay, a colorimetric viability assay, was checked in a cell-free system in terms of its possible chemical interactions with 22 different anticancer drugs.
Results:
It was found that epirubicine, paclitaxel, doxetaxel, and cisplatin caused a relatively significant increase in absorbance values, resulting in the MTT assay giving rise to false results (untrue increase in viability) although most of the drugs tested did not seem to cause any significant change.
Conclusions:
It was concluded that before employing the MTT assay, drugs (or any kind of substances) to be included in the assay should be checked first in terms of possible chemical interactions with MTT, otherwise it may be impossible to evaluate the MTT viability assay results correctly.
Insights
The MTT assay can provide false cancer drug response results due to chemical interactions. Before using this viability assay, test anticancer drugs for interference to ensure accurate patient treatment predictions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Predicting patient response to chemotherapy is crucial in oncology.
- In vitro tumor chemosensitivity assays aid in predicting drug response.
- The MTT assay is a common method for assessing cancer cell viability but may be affected by anticancer drugs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential chemical interactions between anticancer drugs and the MTT assay.
- To identify specific drugs that interfere with MTT assay results.
Main Methods:
- A cell-free system was used to test the MTT assay's interaction with 22 different anticancer drugs.
- Absorbance values were measured to detect interference.
Main Results:
- Epirubicine, paclitaxel, doxetaxel, and cisplatin significantly increased absorbance values in the MTT assay.
- These specific drugs led to false-positive results, indicating increased cell viability when none occurred.
- Most other tested anticancer drugs did not show significant interference with the MTT assay.
Conclusions:
- Anticancer drugs can interfere with the MTT assay, leading to inaccurate viability results.
- It is essential to pre-screen drugs for chemical interactions with the MTT assay before use.
- Failure to check for interference may compromise the correct evaluation of MTT assay results in cancer research.
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