Heterogeneous response of disseminated human ovarian cancers to cytostatics in vitro.

Cell suspensions from nine human ovarian primary cancers, their metastases and ascitic cells were treated in vitro with amethopterin and melphalan. Effects were measured by incorporation of H3-TdR or H3-UdR into the cells. There was significant heterogeneity of cytostatic effects on cells from the three sources in a given patient. Ascitic cells did nt represent a "mean" of the cancer cell clones. The implications of these findings should be considered if cytostatic in vitro prediction tests are used to guide cytostatic treatment of patients.