[In vitro chemosensitivity test with several antitumor agents against eight malignant brain tumor cell-lines]

We performed an in vitro chemosensitivity test with 8 malignant brain tumor cell lines, which were established in our Department. It was shown that ACNU was moderately tumoricidal against only one cell (ONS-86) line. IFN-beta (interferon-beta) was more active against 4 cell (ONS-6, -20, -76, and -81) lines. VCR (vincristine), MTX (methotrexate), and Ara-C (cytosine arabinoside) and FK 973 were most effective against all 8 cell lines. There were some difference in the drug sensitivities among the tumors with the same pathological diagnosis. Since IFN-beta was tumoricidal against to the cells, co-culture of IFN-beta and one of other antitumor agents seemed to induce more antitumor effects. With regard to the side effects of IFN-beta, the combined therapy with IFN-beta and other drugs induced more antitumor effects against malignant brain tumor cells and seemed to reduce the side effects.