Study on the sensitivity of primary glioma cell to chemotherapeutic agents in vitro

Objective: To study the sensitivity of primary human glioma cell to chemotherapeutic agents in vitro in order to provide an experimental basis for clinical chemotherapy of glioma. Methods: The glioma cells derived from 46 cases of fresh brain glioma specimens were cultured in vitro. The sensitivity of primary cultured brain glioma cell to 4 chemotherapeutic agents which were teniposide (VM26), nimustine (ACNU), methotrexate (MTX) and temozolomide (TMZ) was determined by flow cytometry assay. Results: The sensitivity sequence in 46 cases of 4 chemotherapeutic agents from high to low was VM26 (39.13%), TMZ (34.78%), ACNU (26.09%) and MTX (6.52%), there was no significant difference in the chemosensitivity in the groups of VM26, ACNU and TMZ. The chemosensitivity in MTX group was significant lower than the other groups (χ² =13.883, 11.210, 6.452; P < 0.05, for all). There was no significant influence of patients' sex and age on chemosensitivity (P > 0.05, for all). Except TMZ group, the other chemotherapeutic agents showed no significant correlation of chemosensitivity with the pathological grade of the tumor. Conclusion: Glioma sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs in vitro is different. VM26 anti-glioma effect is stronger than the other 3 drugs; TMZ shows a better effect in high grade gliomas. Flow cytometry assay is a rapid drug sensitivity detecting method for screening chemotherapy drugs.