In vitro sensitivity test of stomach cancer tissues by the use of metal grid method

Ninety-nine specimens obtained from 53 patients with stomach cancer were cultured for about 3 days by means of the stainless steel grid method. In vitro effects of antitumor drugs on the cancer cells were evaluated autoradiographically or biochemically using a liquid scintillation counter to measure the uptake of 3H-thymidine. The radioactivity of the labeled tumor cells of both control fragments and fragments affected by drugs varied greatly among individual tumors. Therefore, the in vitro efficacy of antitumor drugs was represented as a comparison with that of control fragments. Positive correlation between in vitro tests and the clinical effects of antitumor drugs was observed in the specimens of 18 cases.