Response of an in vivo-in vitro tumour to X-rays and cytotoxic drugs: effect of tumour disaggregation method on cell survival.
EMT-6/UW tumours were treated in vivo with X-rays, cyclophosphamide, or bleomycin. Cell survival was assayed in vitro following tumour disaggregation with trypsin or an enzyme cocktail (EC) consisting of pronase, collagenase and DNase which gives a 10-20 x higher cell yield. Surviving fraction was lower after cyclophosphamide treatment for cells isolated with EC than for cells prepared with trypsin. The opposite result was obtained with bleomycin; trypsin-isolated cells appeared more sensitive. In attempting to determine the basis for this discrepancy, it was found that both dissociation methods isolate a non-representative cell sample with fewer cells in DNA synthesis (12-13%) than in the original tumour (approximately 22%). The specific nature of the interaction between the injury caused by drug and enzyme remains to be elucidated.
D000818:Animals; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006867:Hydrolases; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D001761:Bleomycin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D006867:Hydrolases