title: In vitro chemosensitivity in ovarian carcinoma: Comparison of three leading assays.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An alternative approach to the current therapy of ovarian carcinoma is the individualization of treatment by determining the sensitivity of tumoral tissue to chemotherapeutic agents before the initiation of chemotherapy. The objectives of the study are to determine the efficacy of in vitro chemosensitivity assays in ovarian carcinoma and to measure the correlation of three leading assays.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh tumoral tissue samples of 26 newly diagnosed primary ovarian cancer patients were studied with 3-(4,5-dimeth-ylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolyum bromide (MTT) assay, adenosine triphosphate-tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) and differential staining cytotoxicity (DISC) assays. Chemosensitivity of tumors were studied for paclitaxel, carboplatin, docetaxel, topotecan, gemcitabine, and doxorubicin with each of the three assays. Subgroup analysis was performed for stage, grade, and histologic type.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The in vitro chemosensitivity results of MTT, ATP, and DISC assays were found to be similar. The subgroups in which in vitro assays would be more useful were encountered for patients with advanced stage and serous histology ovarian carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In vitro chemosensitivity can be determined in ovarian carcinoma with ATP, MTT, or DISC assays before the initiation of chemotherapy. These three assays correlate well with each other and are particularly useful for serous and advanced cancers. Large prospective studies comparing standard versus assay-directed therapy with an endpoint of overall survival are required before routine clinical utilization of these assays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Süleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tatar
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boyraz
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity and Teaching Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: İlker
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Selçuk
authors.affiliation: Onkosel Biotechnology, Hacettepe University Technopolis, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alper K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Usubütün
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zafer Selçuk
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Tuncer
keywords: ATP; DISC; MTT; Ovarian cancer; in vitro chemosensitivity