Abstract
The clonogenic assay described in the Chapter 13 is not suitable for all cell lines. Many adherent cell lines do not form colonies, and clearly it is not applicable to nonadherent cell lines. Furthermore, it is slow and time consuming. This chapter describes an alternative cytotoxicity assay that has a number of advantages when compared with a clonogenic assay. It is quick and easy and allows a large number of assays to be carried out in one batch. This is an important consideration when making comparisons between cell lines, between cytotoxic agents, or when evaluating combinations of drugs. No one cytotoxicity assay is ideal, and it is always advisable to support results with those obtained from alternative assays where possible.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Mosman, T. (1983) Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival: application to proliferation and cytotoxicity assays. J.Immunol. Methods, 65, 55–63.
Alley, M. C., Scudiero, D. A., Monks, A., et al. (1988) Feasibility of drug screening with panels of human tumour cell lines using a microculture tetrazolium assay. Cancer Res., 48, 589–601.
Liu, Y., Peterson, D. A., Kimura, H., and Schubert, D. (1997) Mechanism of cellular 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction. J. Neuro-chem. 69, 581–593.
Vistica, D. T., Skehan, P., Scudiero, D., Monks, A., Pittman, A., and Boyd, M. R. (1991) Tetrazolium-based assays for cellular viability: A critical examination of selected parameters affecting formazan production. Cancer Res., 51, 2515–2520.
Plumb, J. A., Milroy, R., and Kaye, S. B. (1989) Effects of the pH dependence of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-formazan absorption on chemosen-sitivity determined by a novel tetrazolium-based assay. Cancer Res., 49, 4435–4440.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Plumb, J.A. (2004). Cell Sensitivity Assays: The MTT Assay . In: Langdon, S.P. (eds) Cancer Cell Culture. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 88. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-406-9:165
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-406-9:165
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-079-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-406-1
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols