Prediction of the cytotoxic effects of some antineoplastic drugs on cultured T-lymphoma cells by microcalorimetry.

The effects on T-lymphoma cells of the antineoplastic drugs Ara-C, cisplatin, vinblastine, chlorambucil and prednimustine were studied by microcalorimetry and a conventional viability assay. The heat production rate for cells was measured immediately after drug treatment and was compared with the change in cell concentration during the following generation time. The results of the microcalorimetric observations were correlated with cell death. Such correlations varied considerably for the different drugs, in particular between chlorambucil and the other drugs investigated.