Applicability of the Histoculture Drug Response Assay to Predict Platinum Sensitivity and Prognosis in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Background/Aim: To retrospectively analyze the results of histoculture drug response assays (HDRAs) to determine whether the results could predict platinum sensitivity and prognosis in ovarian cancer. Patients and Methods: One hundred thirty-nine patients with ovarian cancer were reviewed. HDRAs were conducted for platinum and taxane agents. Platinum resistance and sensitivity occurred in 21 and 118 patients, respectively. To analyze the relationship between the inhibition rates (IRs) of tumor growth caused by the platinum agent and clinical outcomes, Student’s t-test and linear regression analysis were used. Results: We found that the average IRs of the platinum and taxane agent were not statistically significant between the platinum-sensitive and - resistant groups. There was no statistical significance for overall survival, progression-free survival, or platinum-free interval. Conclusion: The HDRA is not useful for predicting platinum sensitivity and survival outcomes.