2 - Drug sensitivity testing

Abstract

Individualized cancer chemotherapy (ICC) was pioneered in drug sensitivity tests more than half a century ago. It garnered more attention and received a boost during the 1970s. In a drug sensitivity test the anticancer actions of candidate drugs on surgically removed tumor samples are compared, and the drugs showing the best responses are selected for use in succeeding treatments. Individualized cancer chemotherapy deployed before 2000 is generally regarded as drug sensitivity testing. Although anticancer drug sensitivity testing (DST) is the forerunner of ICC, its beneficial to clinical cancer patients is presently controversial. Despite DST techniques are diversified, innovated and improved a great deal in the past several decade, they are not developed into powerful means to cure all cancer patients. Much effort is needed for updating DST technology and hospital routines in future.