Apoptosis as a measure of chemosensitivity to anti-cancer drugs in gynecological cancer

OBJECTIVE: To examine apoptosis as a measure of chemosensitivity to anti-cancer drugs in gynecological cancer xenografted into nude mice. METHODS: The TUNEL method was used to investigate the induction of apoptosis after exposure to anti-cancer drugs in thirteen gynecological cancers xenografted into nude mice. Moreover, in vivo sensitivities of gynecologic cancer to anti-cancer drugs were determined according to the protocol developed by Battle Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio USA. Both methods were examined for correlation. RESULTS: The apoptosis index by the TUNEL method showed a correlation with the findings using the protocol developed by Battle Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio USA. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate the ability to determine the measure of chemosensitivity by the apoptosis index.