In Vitro Drug Sensitivity Analysis of Patient-Derived Cell Line: A Potential Guide for Personalized Treatment Strategies

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 10 million deaths in 2020 (1). According to GLOBOCAN’s 2020 report for Pakistan, 178,888 new cancer cases have been registered in Pakistan, while the number of prevalent cases is 329,547, for a total of 117,149 deaths due to cancer (2). Research studies have shown that 20% of cancer patients die during treatment because of the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and not because of the cancer itself (3).

This study aims using cell culture assays and in vitro drug screening methodologies to test effective chemotherapeutic drugs in order to improve cancer treatment for the local population of Pakistan. It also aims to address the current lack of low-cost and personalized treatment for cancer patients by testing chemotherapeutic drugs against patient-derived cancer cell lines in a matter of weeks instead of doctors testing them directly on patients, which takes months, along with drug side effects on the patient’s health.