[Experimental and clinical study in vitro chemosensitivity test for succinate dehydrogenase inhibition test]

The usefulness and problems in the succinate dehydrogenase inhibition (SDI) test as an in vivo chemosensitivity test were reviewed and discussed. SDI test is based on the correlation of succinate dehydrogenase activity with cell viability. The optimal condition of SDI test were evaluated with respect to concentration of anticancer drugs, incubation time, effect of sodium succinate on formazan production and enzymatic disaggregation of solid tumors. Analysis of the chemosensitivity of clinical tumors revealed that the origin of tumor, histological differentiation, DNA distribution patterns, estrogen receptor status in breast cancer, and difference of primary and metastatic lesions were critical for determining the chemosensitivity of tumor tissues. Correlation between in vitro sensitivity in the SDI test and in vivo clinical results of chemotherapy was evaluated. Since SDI test reflects cell viability and is a simple, rapid and inexpensive methods, it is appropriate both for clinical chemosensitivity testing and for the screening of anticancer drugs.