In vitro analysis of BCNU-sensitivity in human malignant gliomas

Abstract

With the use of the Human Brain Tumor Stem Cell Assay (HBTSCA) in a cross-resistance study, four early (3-4) culture passages of human malignant gliomas (glioblastoma multiforme) were tested for in vitro chemosensitivity with three of the most effective single agents for brain tumor chemotherapy: BCNU, CCNU and cisplatinum (DDP). The shapes of the dose-response curves indicated complete cross-resistance between BCNU and CCNU, i.e. two chloroethyl-nitrosoureas sharing a common alkylating-carbamoylating activity, with no evident cross-resistance between the two nitrosoureas and the DDP, a DNA binder with a putatively different antitumor action. Probably because of differences in drug delivery kinetics or in the cytotoxic mechanism, DDP might play a role in the treatment of nitrosourea-resistant gliomas.