Short-term culture of human breast cancer: in vitro effects of hormones related to patient response.

Breast-cancer tissue from 60 patients was tested for oestrogen and testosterone sensitivity in vitro by measuring [3H]-dT incorporation in tissue fragments at various times during 48h culture. Hormone sensitivity in test culture was determined as an increase or decrease in dT uptake. In vitro cultures of breast cancer tissue demonstrate that some tumours are hormone-sensitive and others hormone-insensitive, but it cannot be predicted whether cell proliferation is stimulated or inhibited by hormone treatment. The data were related to the clinical stage of the patients, menopausal status, and the degree of anaplasia of the tumours tested. No correlation was observed between these parameters and in vitro hormonal sensitivity. However, when related to the response of patients to various kinds of hormonal treatment, a significant positive correlation was obtained.