[Result of individualized chemotherapy with a newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity testing in ovarian cancer].

By means of a newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test based on the morphological changes in the nucleus (nuclear damage assay) as previously described, we were able to screen currently available anticancer drugs within 24 hr with a 100% success rate. The nuclear damage assay was used to determine the chemosensitivity in 50 patients (66 assays) with ovarian cancer. The response rate for the 13 patients with measurable tumors, 8 of whom showed resistance to CAP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and cisplatin) therapy, was 46 percent when they were given various combination chemotherapy protocols consisting of more than one active agent selected from group A and B agents by the nuclear damage assay. The newly developed in vitro chemosensitivity test proved to be useful when selecting a second line combination for patients with CAP-resistant ovarian cancer.