Feasibility assessment of in vitro chemoresponse assay on stereotactic biopsies of glioblastoma multiforms: a step towards personalized medicine

OBJECTIVES P In vitro chemosensitivity and resistance assays (CSRAs) are a promising tool for personalized treatment of glioblastoma multiform (GBM). These assays require a minimum of 1 to 2 g of tumor specimen for testing, but this amount is not always accessible. We aimed to assess the feasibility and validity of utilizing stereotactic biopsies of GBM in CSRAs. MATERIALS AND METHODS Single cell suspension was prepared from 1 g weight explants of the established xenograft tumor of GBM. Also, primary culture was carried out on 35 mg weight specimens, as a surrogate for stereotactic biopsies. Then, chemoresponse profile of cells obtained by direct cell disaggregation and primary culture was determined using temozolomide and carmustine by clonogenic assay. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in the cytotoxicity of temozolomide and carmustine between cells obtained from both methods. CONCLUSION This work supports the feasibility of using stereotactic biopsies of GBM in CSRAs.