In Vitro Growth of Human Malignancies in a Cloning Assay

Abstract

The human tumor cloning assay developed by Hamburger and Salmon (1977) has great potential for cell biology and drug studies. A recent prospective study by Von Hoff et al. (1983) further supports its relevance as a chemosensitivity test. Among 246 in vitro-in vivo trials, the assay identified 43 tumors sensitive to chemotherapy. Clinical responses were achieved in 61% of these 43 tumors vs 23% of the total number of trials. Clinical failures were noted in 77% of the 246 trials, whereas 85% of the negative tests were confirmed clinically. In fact, many more trials had been conducted but correlations could be established in only 41% of these because of inadequate tumor growth and a number of other problems. The relatively small proportion of patients in whom these correlations could be made illustrates some of the limitations extensively described by Selby et al. (1983).

The authors acknowledge the assistance of Mrs. Geneviève Decoster in the preparation of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique Médicale (FRSM-3.4535.79, Belgium), the National Cancer Institute (NCI-NIH NO1/CM 53840, Bethesda, Maryland), and l’Association Sportive contre le Cancer (Belgium)