A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE ATP ASSAY IN SERUM-FREE MEDIA AND THE ADHESIVE TUMOR-CELL CULTURE SYSTEM AS A DRUG-SENSITIVITY TEST FOR HUMAN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

In order to determine the reliability of the ATP assay in serum-free m edia (SF-ATPA), which has recently been developed as a simple and rapi d method of drug sensitivity testing, we compared results of this assa y with those of the adhesive tumor cell culture system (ATCCS; Lifetra c CSA(TM) assay). A total of 16 surgically resected esophageal carcino ma samples were divided and sensitivities determined in both assays. O f these 16 samples, 13 in SF-ATPA and 11 in ATCCS were evaluable. Ther e was good correlation of tumor growth in the control groups using eit her assay. The sensitivity of the five tested drugs in SF-ATPA and ATC CS was: 3/11 and 3/10 for adriamycin, 4/11 and 3/11 for cisplatin, 2/1 0 and 3/11 for VP-16, 1/11 and 0/11 for 5-fluorouracil and 0/11 and 0/ 11 for vindesine. Despite the wide differences between the assay syste ms, the assays correlated well with an overall responding rate of 43/5 3 (81%). SF-ATPA is considered to be a reliable and rapid chemosensiti vity test in human esophageal cancer.