The effect of cytostatic drugs on the synthesis of DNA in adenocarcinomas of the stomach. An in vitro study.

The sensitivity of adenocarcinomas of the stomach to various cytostatic drugs has been tested in short-term incubations. A suspension of single cells and small tissue fragments was prepared. It was used for incubation with the following drugs: melphalan, vinblastine sulphate, amethopterin, and 5-fluoro-uracil. The effect of the cytostatic drugs was measured as the difference in incorporation of labelled precursors in treated tubes and untreated control tubes. The different tumours were found to vary significantly in the their sensitivity. Moreover, a correlation of the effects between melphalan and vinblastine sulphate, and between amethopterin and vinblastine sulphate was observed.