Abstract
The clonogenic assay described in Chapter 2 is not suitable for all cell lines. Many adherent cell lines do not form colonies and clearly it is not applicable to non-adherent 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 from alternative assays where possible.
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., Hursey, M. L., Czerwinski, M. J., Fine, D. L., Abbott, B. J., Mayo, J. G., Shoemaker, R. H., and Boyd, M. R. (1988) Feasibility of drug screening with panels of human tumour cell lines using a micro-culture 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. Neurochem. 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 chemosensitivity 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
© 1999 Humana Press Inc.
About this protocol
Cite this protocol
Plumb, J.A. (1999). Cell Sensitivity Assays. In: Brown, R., Böger-Brown, U. (eds) Cytotoxic Drug Resistance Mechanisms. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 28. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-687-8:25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-687-8:25
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-603-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-687-4
eBook Packages: Springer Protocols