Effects of X-irradiation alone and in combination with ACNU on human glioblastoma cells in vitro.

The combined effects of x-irradiation and 1-(4-amino-2-methyl-5-pyrimidinyl)methyl-3-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-nitrosourea (ACNU) on multicellular glioblastoma A-7 spheroids were analyzed by means of cell survival and dose-response curves. The actual dose-response curve for small spheroids was almost identical to that estimated from the cell survival curve. It was strongly suggested that a small number of radiation-resistant cells, which were not detected in the cell survival curve, were present in large spheroids with central necrosis. The enhancing effect of ACNU was greater with large spheroids than with monolayer cells or small spheroids. A possible explanation for this is that ACNU is higher effective against the few radiation-resistant cells that may be present in larger spheroids.