title: Recent applications of chemosensitivity tests for colorectal cancer treatment.
abstract: The evaluation of therapeutic efficacy is necessary to predict the outcome of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). In these patients, there is a critical need for predictive chemosensitivity assays and biomarkers to optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity. The introduction of targeted agents has improved the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients with metastatic disease. However, approximately 50% of patients do not show a positive response to chemotherapy and the selection of patients likely to respond to a specific regimen remains challenging. Cell culture-based chemosensitivity tests use autologous viable tumor cells to evaluate susceptibility to specific agents in vitro and predict their direct effects. Adenosine triphosphate-based assays and methyl thiazolyl-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide-based assays are used widely as sensitivity tests because of their short assay period, technical simplicity, and the requirement of small amount of specimen. Among protein- and gene-based chemosensitivity assays, assessment of KRAS mutation status predicts the response to epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy in CRC patients. The validation of predictive and prognostic markers enables the selection of therapeutic regimens with optimal efficacy and minimal toxicity for each patient, which has been termed personalized treatment. This review summarizes currently available predictive and prognostic chemosensitivity tests for metastatic CRC.
authors.affiliation: Yong Sik Yoon, Jin Cheon Kim, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Yong Sik Yoon, Jin Cheon Kim, Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 138-736, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Cheon
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010641:Phenotype; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Chemotherapy; Colorectal adenocarcinomas; Colorectal cancer; In vitro assays; Individualized therapy; Molecular targeted therapy