Abstract: The present invention provides methods for individualizing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, and particularly for evaluating a patient's responsiveness to sunitinib prior to treatment. The method comprises expanding malignant cells in culture from a patient's tumor specimen, contacting the cultured cells with one or more active agents including sunitinib, and evaluating or quantifying the response to the active agent(s). The result of the assay is a dose response curve, which may be evaluated using algorithms described herein, so as to quantitatively assess drug sensitivity. The in vitro response to the drug as determined by the method of the invention is correlative with the patient's in vivo response upon receiving sunitinib during chemotherapeutic treatment, in the course of standardized or individualized chemotherapeutic regimen.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for individualizing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, and particularly for evaluating a patient's responsiveness to one or more epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors prior to treatment with such agents. Particularly, the invention provides an in vitro chemoresponse assay for predicting a patient's response to a monoclonal EGFR antibody, such as cetuximab. The method generally comprises culturing malignant cells from a patient's specimen (e.g., biopsy specimen), contacting the cultured cells with a monoclonal EGFR antibody that is a candidate treatment for the patient, and evaluating the cultured cells for a response to the drug. In certain embodiments, monolayer(s) of malignant cells are cultured from explants prepared by mincing tumor tissue, and the cells of the monolayer are suspended and plated for chemosenstivity testing.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for individualizing chemotherapy for cancer treatment, and particularly for evaluating a patient's responsiveness to one or more epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors prior to treatment with such agents. Particularly, the invention provides an in vitro chemoresponse assay for predicting a patient's response to an EGFR inhibitor, such as an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor or a molecule targeting the extracellular domain of EGFR. The method generally comprises culturing malignant cells from a patient's specimen (e.g., biopsy specimen), contacting the cultured cells with an EGFR inhibitor that is a candidate treatment for the patient, and evaluating the cultured cells for a response to the drug. In certain embodiments, monolayer(s) of malignant cells are cultured from explants prepared by mincing tumor tissue, and the cells of the monolayer are suspended and plated for chemosenstivity testing.