In Vitro sensitivity profile of some new chemotherapeutic agents in bilharzial related bladder cancer

Abstract

The present study demonstrated the in vitro effect of gemcitabine, taxotere, navelbine and their combination against bilharzia! related bladder cancer. Tumors were explanted using the three dimensional in vitro histoculture assay with the MTT end point. All drugs were tested at their peak plasma levels. No tumor sensitivity could be detected to any of the 28 samples tested for gemcitabine with an overall in vitro response of 0 %. Among 21 samples tested for taxotere only 3 samples showed in vitro sensitivity with an overall in vitro response rate 14.28 %. Navelbine has demonstrated in vitro activity in 2 samples among 17 tested samples with an overall in vitro response rate II.76 %. Among 14 samples tested for simultaneous application of the 3 drugs, the sensitivity of the combination was demonstrated in I sample and the overall in vitro response rate was 7.14 %. There was no significant correlation between the tumor percent reduction

using the different treatment and any of the clinical parameters including age, sex bilharzia! affection, pathologic grade, stage and lymph node status. By comparing the tumor percent reduction among the 4 treatment groups taxotere was significantly more effective in vitro than gemcitabine. Bilharzia! related bladder cancer might be more sensitive in vitro to single agents that attack microtubules than those inhibit the DNA synthesis. The three dimensional in vitro histoculture assay with the MTT end point

is a suitable in vitro chemosensitivity test that can be used if applied by others for the evaluation of the in vitro effect of different anticancer drugs singly or in combination on the bilharzia!related bladder cancer.