ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of ATP bioluminescence tumor chemosensitivity assay (ATP-TCA) for recurrent and refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) specimens in vitro.Methods Thirty-four freshlytaken recurrent andrefractoryNHL specimens weretestedin vitro for cancer chemosensitivity by ATP-TCA.ResultsDrug sensitivity of NHL specimens had heterogeneity.Different drugs had different tumor growth inhibition ratio in vitro.Response rate (RR) of the patients receiving chemotherapy according to in vitro assay was 82.4 ％ (28/34),complete response rate (CR) was 52.9 ％ (18/34).In DICE group RR was 60.0 ％ (18/30),CR rate was 33.3 ％ (10/30).In GDP group RR was 62.3 ％ (33/53),CR rate was 26.4 ％ (14/53).In ATP-TCA group RR was significantly higher than those in DICE and GDP groups (x2 =3.93,P =0.047; x2 =3.98,P =0.046).ConclusionThe results of ATP-TCA assay are correlated well with clinical treatment responses.The assay may be an important and useful method for individual-based chemotherapy of cancers.