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Implications for the Clinical Application of the Clonogenic Assay

Carl A. Bertelsen, MD; Edward I. Korn, PhD; Donald L. Morton, MD; David H. Kern, PhD

Arch Surg. 1983;118(12):1406-1409.

Abstract
• To determine whether in vitro chemosensitivities of clones from metastases of human tumors varied, biopsy specimens of two separate metastatic lesions were obtained from 75 patients. Significant tumor growth (>30 colonies per plate) occurred in both specimens in 49 of the 75 patients. Biopsies were performed simultaneously in 22 patients (synchronous) and sequentially in 27 patients (metachronous). Tumor samples were scored as being resistant (<50% inhibition of colony formation) or sensitive (>50% inhibition) to each drug. The two tumor samples from each patient were compared for differences in sensitivity after exposure with standard panels of chemotherapeutic agents. A total of 272 individual drug comparisons were possible. Variations were evident in 49 (40%) of 121 metachronous drug comparisons and in 42 (28%) of 151 synchronous drug comparisons. We concluded that multiple metastases of human tumors can vary in chemosensitivity in vitro; this finding seemed to reflect the heterogeneity of metastatic clones.

(Arch Surg 1983;118:1406-1409)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Surgical Oncology, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Medicine (Drs Bertelsen, Korn, and Morton), and the Surgical Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, Calif (Dr Kern).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 14, 1983.

Read before the Annual Meeting of the Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Rancho Mirage, Calif, Jan 16, 1983.

Reprint requests to Division of Surgical Oncology, Ninth Floor, Factor Building, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (Dr Bertelsen).

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