SELECTIVE SENSITIVITY OF SOLID TUMORS TO SURAMIN IN PRIMARY CULTURES OF TUMOR-CELLS FROM PATIENTS

The antineoplastic activity of suramin is currently the subject of cli nical trials. We therefore used the semi-automated fluorometric microc ulture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA) to evaluate the cytotoxicity of suram in in vitro in primary cultures of cells from patients with hematologi cal or solid tumors. The activity patterns of some standard cytotoxic agents were included for comparison. A total of 159 samples were teste d using continuous drug exposure. Suramin showed relatively high activ ity against solid tumors, with colorectal, adrenal and kidney carcinom as being the most sensitive, whereas hematological malignancies were m ore resistant. Suramin and standard drugs showed very low cross-resist ance. The results indicate that suramin is differentially active again st some solid tumors with comparatively little activity against hemato logical tumors. The study provides an experimental motive for evaluati on of suramin therapy in patients with solid tumors and exploration of less toxic suramin analogues. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.