Different chemosensitivity of pre and postmenopausal breast-cancer cells

In order to refine our adjuvant chemotherapy against locally advanced breast cancer, an anticancer drug sensitivity test, using the MTT assay was conducted with biopsy specimens of human breast cancer obtained prior to therapy. Dose-dependent sensitivity was observed with all tested agents: cisplatinum, mitomycin C, methotrexate and doxorubicin. The sensitivity of the premenopausal specimens to the effects of mitomycin C and doxorubicin varied widely. When selecting chemotherapeutic agents to combat breast cancer, this variation in drug sensitivity based on menopausal status and patient age should be considered.