5-Fluorouracil (FU) and mitomycin C (MMC) in the management of colorectal carcinoma. Part II. In vitro activity of the two drugs in short-term tumor cultures.
Eighty-seven colorectal adenocarcinomas from untreated patients were investigated by short term tumor cultures to test in vitro sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C. This study reports the preliminary results of a multistep program aimed at the prospective clinical application of the assay. At present this in vitro experience was performed in parallel with a clinical trial carried out with the same drugs. The in vitro activity of the two anticancer agents is in agreement with the response rate reported in monochemotherapy; our data would suggest an increase of responses using the combination of fluorouracil and mitomycin in comparison to single drug therapy. A low cosensitivity rate and a high number of cases sensitive to one drug but resistant to the other, account for the use of this test as screening of active drugs in the individual patient.
Franchi
F
F
Third Department of Internal Medicine, University La Sapienza, Roma, Italia.
Barone
C
C
Seminara
P
P
Codacci-Pisanelli
G
G
Codacci-Pisanelli
M
M
Ferri
G M
GM
Garufi
C
C
Grieco
A
A
Pagani
V
V
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil