Background Information
The DCA works in a very similar manner to a microbial antibiotic sensitivity test. Using culture techniques developed over many years, our laboratory is able to specifically grow the malignant cells from a tumour biopsy in the presence of a range of different chemotherapeutic agents. After six days the relative chemosensitivity or chemoresistance of the individual tumour is determined using sensitive cell viability tests.
The panel of drugs tested will depend on the nature of the malignancy. The drugs selected are those used in common veterinary practice. From a 1cm3 biopsy we should be able to test approximately eight different drugs or combinations. Please contact us if you would like us to include a specific agent that we would not routinely assay.
The complete test takes seven days, after which a drug response report is sent to your practice. The report will illustrate which drugs the specific tumour is resistant to in addition to indicating drug sensitivity.
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