Preoperative chemotherapy for esophageal cancer based on chemosensitivity testing.

To examine the role and significance of in vitro chemosensitivity testing on cells cultured from endoscopic biopsy specimens, we evaluated outcomes in 57 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. Over 3 1/2 years, 57 patients were treated with a single course of preoperative combination chemotherapy based on the results of chemosensitivity testing utilizing eight antineoplastic agents. A radiologically evident response (partial response) was seen in 23 patients (40.