[Chemosensitivity testing by regrowth assay against malignant bone and soft tissue tumors]

In order to improve the clinical results of chemotherapy protocols for patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors, an attempt was made to establish a methodological approach to chemo-sensitivity testing using a modified regrowth assay system. We have established a chemo-sensitivity testing system using methylcholanthrene-induced round cell sarcoma in BALB/c mouse. This system was applied clinically and the sensitivity to anticancer drugs was found within two weeks of cell culture. Fifteen patients with malignant tumors were treated using a chemotherapy protocol composed of drugs selected by means of our system. Eleven patients (73.3%) showed an excellent therapeutic response. Our simple assay system is available to determine sensitivity to drugs in a short time. Drugs with no sensitivity can be eliminated from the protocol so that adverse effects on normal tissue can also be reduced.