Objective      To evaluate the sensitivity of human cerebral glioma to chemotherapeutic drugs by MTT assay.       Methods     In vitro sensitivities of primary cerebral glioma cells and U87 glioma cells to eight chemotherapeutic drugs such as adriamycin (ADM)

5-fluorouracil (5-Fu)

carboplatin (CBP)

cisplatin (DDP)

methotrexate (MTX)

etoposide (VP-16)

mitomycin (MMC) and vincristine (VCR) were determined by modified MTT assay.       Results      In primary cerebral glioma cells

the sensitivity to the eight chemotherapeutic drugs from high to low was ADMMMCDDPVCR5-FuVP-16CBPMTX. Among those

ADM was the most effective chemotherapeutic drug to glioma cells with an inhibitory rate of 95.54%. Meanwhile

in U87 glioma cells

the sensitivity to seven chemotherapeutic drugs from high to low was ADMVP-16CBPMMC5-FuDDPMTX. ADM was the most effective chemotherapeutic drug to U87 cells with an inhibitory rate of 91.19%. U87 glioma cells were not sensitive to MTX and DDP

and the inhibitory rate was less than 30%.       Conclusion      MTT assay is a rapid method for screening antineoplastic agent against glioma. The glioma cells are more sensitive to ADM in vitro than to MMC

VCR

5-Fu

VP-16

CBP and MTX. Evaluation of the chemotherapeutic drugs to human glioma by MTT assay can be a helpful guidance for clinical chemotherapy

and improve the effectiveness of individualized chemotherapy.