Abstract: The use of genomic tests shows variability between the primary tumor and the metastases in most circumstances referred to as tumor heterogeneity. Since it is unduly invasive and difficult to obtain samples from the primary and metastatic tumors within a patient, a need exists for a method of testing chemotherapeutic effectiveness in a patient that is applicable to both primary tumor and metastases. Provided are methods of using the MiCK assay to determine the most effective drug candidate(s) for an individual patient by testing a single tumor site. In a further embodiment, the kinetic unit (KU) value obtained by analysis of cancer cells from a tumor site in an individual patient in the presence of a drug candidate is within two standard deviations of the KU value obtained by analysis of a different tumor site in the patient in the presence of the same drug candidate.

Abstract: The use of genomic tests shows variability between the primary tumor and the metastases in most circumstances referred to as tumor heterogeneity. Since it is unduly invasive and difficult to obtain samples from the primary and metastatic tumors within a patient, a need exists for a method of testing chemotherapeutic effectiveness in a patient that is applicable to both primary tumor and metastases. Provided are methods of using the MiCK assay to determine the most effective drug candidate(s) for an individual patient by testing a single tumor site. In a further embodiment, the kinetic unit (KU) value obtained by analysis of cancer cells from a tumor site in an individual patient in the presence of a drug candidate is within two standard deviations of the KU value obtained by analysis of a different tumor site in the patient in the presence of the same drug candidate.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for determining the relative effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. The interface has selectable options, including an option to manage drug testing parameters, and enables user selection of desired drug testing parameters in relation to a virtual well plate associated with a physical well plate of a spectrophotometer. The computer system causes the spectrophotometer to start a drug test, wherein the physical well plate includes at least one test well containing viable cancer cells; and at least one drug candidate in a predetermined concentration; and at least one control well containing the viable cancer cells alone. The system records the optical density of the well at a predetermined wavelength at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, and stores the optical density and time measurements in the database.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for determining the relative effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. The interface has selectable options, including an option to manage drug testing parameters, and enables user selection of desired drug testing parameters in relation to a virtual well plate associated with a physical well plate of a spectrophotometer. The computer system causes the spectrophotometer to start a drug test, wherein the physical well plate includes at least one test well containing viable cancer cells; and at least one drug candidate in a predetermined concentration; and at least one control well containing the viable cancer cells alone. The system records the optical density of the well at a predetermined wavelength at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, and stores the optical density and time measurements in the database.

Abstract: The use of genomic tests shows variability between the primary tumor and the metastases in most circumstances referred to as tumor heterogeneity. Since it is unduly invasive and difficult to obtain samples from the primary and metastatic tumors within a patient, a need exists for a method of testing chemotherapeutic effectiveness in a patient that is applicable to both primary tumor and metastases. Provided are methods of using the MiCK assay to determine the most effective drug candidate(s) for an individual patient by testing a single tumor site. In a further embodiment, the kinetic unit (KU) value obtained by analysis of cancer cells from a tumor site in an individual patient in the presence of a drug candidate is within two standard deviations of the KU value obtained by analysis of a different tumor site in the patient in the presence of the same drug candidate.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for determining the relative effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. The interface has selectable options, including an option to manage drug testing parameters, and enables user selection of desired drug testing parameters in relation to a virtual well plate associated with a physical well plate of a spectrophotometer. The computer system causes the spectrophotometer to start a drug test, wherein the physical well plate includes at least one test well containing viable cancer cells; and at least one drug candidate in a predetermined concentration; and at least one control well containing the viable cancer cells alone. The system records the optical density of the well at a predetermined wavelength at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, and stores the optical density and time measurements in the database.

Abstract: The use of genomic tests shows variability between the primary tumor and the metastases in most circumstances referred to as tumor heterogeneity. Since it is unduly invasive and difficult to obtain samples from the primary and metastatic tumors within a patient, a need exists for a method of testing chemotherapeutic effectiveness in a patient that is applicable to both primary tumor and metastases. Provided are methods of using the MiCK assay to determine the most effective drug candidate(s) for an individual patient by testing a single tumor site. In a further embodiment, the kinetic unit (KU) value obtained by analysis of cancer cells from a tumor site in an individual patient in the presence of a drug candidate is within two standard deviations of the KU value obtained by analysis of a different tumor site in the patient in the presence of the same drug candidate.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for determining the relative effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. The interface has selectable options, including an option to manage drug testing parameters, and enables user selection of desired drug testing parameters in relation to a virtual well plate associated with a physical well plate of a spectrophotometer. The computer system causes the spectrophotometer to start a drug test, wherein the physical well plate includes at least one test well containing viable cancer cells; and at least one drug candidate in a predetermined concentration; and at least one control well containing the viable cancer cells alone. The system records the optical density of the well at a predetermined wavelength at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, and stores the optical density and time measurements in the database.

Abstract: A computer system is provided for determining the relative effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs. The interface has selectable options, including an option to manage drug testing parameters, and enables user selection of desired drug testing parameters in relation to a virtual well plate associated with a physical well plate of a spectrophotometer. The computer system causes the spectrophotometer to start a drug test, wherein the physical well plate includes at least one test well containing viable cancer cells; and at least one drug candidate in a predetermined concentration; and at least one control well containing the viable cancer cells alone. The system records the optical density of the well at a predetermined wavelength at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, and stores the optical density and time measurements in the database.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of evaluating the ability of an anti-cancer drug candidate to induce apoptosis in a known cancer cell line by placing a single-cell suspension of a known cancer cell line in a well of a plate, adding at least one drug candidate to the well in an amount sufficient to achieve a target drug candidate concentration, measuring the optical density at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, determining a kinetic units value from the optical density and time measurements, and correlating the kinetic units value with an ability of the anti-cancer drug candidate to induce apoptosis in the cancer cell line if the kinetic units value is positive. A similar method may be used to evaluate the ability of an anti-cancer drug candidate to induce apoptosis in a cancer type.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method of evaluating the ability of an anti-cancer drug candidate to induce apoptosis in a known cancer cell line by placing a single-cell suspension of a known cancer cell line in a well of a plate, adding at least one drug candidate to the well in an amount sufficient to achieve a target drug candidate concentration, measuring the optical density at selected time intervals for a selected duration of time, determining a kinetic units value from the optical density and time measurements, and correlating the kinetic units value with an ability of the anti-cancer drug candidate to induce apoptosis in the cancer cell line if the kinetic units value is positive. A similar method may be used to evaluate the ability of an anti-cancer drug candidate to induce apoptosis in a cancer type.