ANTICANCER CHEMOSENSITIVITY PROFILE OF FRESHLY SEPARATED HUMAN PANCREATIC-CANCER CELLS ASSESSED BY DNA-SYNTHESIS INHIBITION ASSAY

The chemosensitivity of 49 freshly separated human pancreatic cancers to seven kinds of anticancer agents were assessed by a DNA synthesis ( H-3- thymidine incorporation) inhibition assay. DNA synthesis is highe r in involved lymph nodes (n = 7), malignant effusion (n = 15), liver metastasis (n = 7), primary cancer (n = 15), and skin metastasis (n = 5). Chemosensitivity assay demonstrates that etoposide, 4-epirubicin, carboquone, and 5-fluorouracil are more effective than cisplatin, mito mycin-C, and Adriamycin. In general, metastatic lesions of pancreatic cancer tend to show higher chemosensitivity than primary lesions. Path ological analysis demonstrates that small primary pancreatic cancers t end to be more responsive than large primary cancers, and primary panc reatic cancers with no regional lymph node involvement also tend to be more responsive than those with nodal involvement. No significant dif ferences are seen in terms of tumor spread, vascular involvement, sex of patient, and histological type. When chemosensitivity assay is not available, the results df the present study may be beneficial to choos e the regimens. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.