[Biological features determining the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer]

We analysed the relationship between several biological properties of gastric cancers and their chemosensitivity determined by MTT assay. Higher chemosensitivity was associated with poor differentiation, aneuploidy, and higher proliferative activity. Lymph node metastasis was more chemosensitive than primary lesion, while liver metastasis was less. Gastric cancer expressing multidrug-resistance associated protein (MRP) showed lower sensitivity to several anticancer drugs, including adriamycin and etoposide. p53 status and susceptibility to apoptosis were also associated with chemosensitivity. Thus, chemosensitivity of clinical gastric cancer might be increased if these characters can be modified by some new biologic therapy.