[In vitro chemo-sensitivity MTT assay guided intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites caused by different types of abdominal cancers guided by chemo-sensitivity methyl tetrojolium coloremetric (MTT) assay in vitro.


METHODS
Cancer cells in the malignant ascites were collected for MTT assay to determine the chemo-sensitivity. The drug producing the highest or the second highest inhibition rate was selected for intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The correlation between the results of MTT assay and the response of malignant ascites, the clinical features, Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and prognosis were analyzed.


RESULTS
MTT assay indicated that Taxotere (TXT) and Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) were the most effective to cancer cells in malignant ascites, and HCPT was mostly frequently used for intraperitoneal chemotherapy (56.9%). Twenty-four patients showed response by intraperitoneal chemotherapy (complete response: 7; partial response: 17) with a slightly significant correlation between the results of MTT assay and response of malignant ascites (P = 0. 014). The KPS of the responders was improved significantly (P < 0.001), and the response of malignant ascites to intraperitoneal chemotherapy was demostrated as an independent prognostic factor by multi-variate analysis in this series.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro chemo-sensitivity MTT assay guided intraperitoneal chemotherapy for malignant ascites is simple, effective and safe, which can improve the KPS and prognosis of the responders.
Geng
Mei
M
Department of Medical Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China. doctorgengmei@yahoo.com.cn
Ma
Tao
T
YeE
Zheng-Bao
ZB
Ji
Yu-Bao
YB
Lou
Gu-Yin
GY
Xi
Wen-Qi
WQ
Jiang
Jin-Song
JS
Xia
Hong-Qiang
HQ
Li
Hao
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; C028098:10-hydroxycamptothecin; D002166:Camptothecin