In vitro drug-induced cytotoxicity predicts clinical response to fludarabine in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
We investigated the possible value of an in vitro drug-induced cytotoxicity assay in predicting clinical response to fludarabine (FAMP) in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The median FAMP-LD50 values for cases designated as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), no response (NR) and progressive disease (PD) were 1.43, 2.05, 24.8 and 77.9 microg/ml, respectively (P=0.013). A significant lower mean FAMP-LD50 value was observed in the in vivo responding cases as compared to non-responding ones (3.0 +/- 0.82 SEM v 42.3 +/- 12.6 SEM, P=0.001). Only FAMP-LD50 < or = 2.5 microg/ml and more than four FAMP courses significantly influenced the response rate in univariate and multivariate analyses. The MTT assay may be of value in predicting clinical response to FAMP in CLL patients.
Morabito
F
F
Centro Trapianti di Midollo Osseo e Terapia Sovramassimale Emato-Oncologica Alberto Neri, Dipartimento di Emato-Oncologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Stelitano
C
C
Callea
I
I
Dattola
A
A
Console
G
G
Pucci
G
G
Iacopino
P
P
Callea
V
V
di Raimondo
F
F
Brugiatelli
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine