Evaluation of single-agent therapy in human colorectal tumour xenografts

Abstract

Summary.-The responses of 6 human colorectal tumour xenografts to 7 cytotoxic agents have been established. Tumour responses have been quantified by growth inhibition, and the time taken for 3H-thymidine fractional incorporation (TFI) to recover to the control value after treatment. The chemosensitivity of each tumour line to a spectrum of agents was individual, and no pattern of response which would allow prediction of individual agent efficacy was apparent. Cyclophosphamide, methyl-CCNU and 5-fluorouracil produced marked growth inhibition in individual tumour lines, whereas actinomycin-D, cis-dichlorodiammine platinum, doxorubicin and pentamethylmelamine showed little activity. Data presented agree with clinical evaluation for single-agent therapy. The uptake and incorporation of radiolabelled 5-fluorouracil into 4 tumour lines is reported. No marked differences between 3 FUinsensitive lines and 1 sensitive line have been observed.

The spectrum of chemosensitivity of two human pancreatic carcinoma xenografts

“…Nowak et al (1978) Houghton & Houghton (1978) came to a similar conclusion, also on colo-rectal cancer. In a study of breast-cancer xenografts, Bailey et al (1980) examined the response of 5 tumour lines to 6 single agents and 2 drug combinations.…”

BCG treatment of human tumour xenografts in athymic nude mice

“…However, in view of the current use of human tumour xenografts in mice for assessing their response to chemotherapeutic agents (Sonis et al, 1977;UICC Technical Report, 1974;Povlsen & Jacobsen 1975;Houghton & Houghton, 1978), the present tests were carried out to examine their 47 susceptibility to BCG. These studies were modelled on those previously carried out with rat tumour xenografts in congenitally athymic nude mice (Pimm & Baldwin, 1975 harvested from in vitro culture (Table III).…”

O6-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase activity correlates with the therapeutic response of human rhabdomyosarcoma xenografts to 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(trans-4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea.

“…Each of the six rhabdomyosarcoma lines was established directly as a xenograft in mice from tumor material obtained from patients before administration of chemotherapy or radiotherapy (12). Lines Rhl2, Rhl8, and Rh39 were derived from primary tumors; Rh3O and Rh35, from bone marrow; and Rh28, from a metastatic mass in the axilla.…”