We have examined the chemosensitivity of malignant melanoma (MM) using a collagen gel droplet embedded culture drug sensitivity test (CD-DST) for two years. In this study, tumor cells were exposed to drugs under the conditions that can reproduce the 24 hours plasma area under the time-drug concentration curve (AUC) in vitro. Eighteen tests were done for fourteen cases of MM. Five drugs (Cisplatin, Adriamycin, Dacarbazine, Nimustine hydrochloride and Vincristine sulfate) were tested. The success rate of the primary culture of MM cells was 77% (14/18) . Chemosensitivities of MM cells were: Cisplatin 23%, Adriamysin 41%, Vincristine 46%. No sensitivities of dacarbazine and nisumutine were detected. Dacarbazine is not suitable for CD-DST because Dacarbazine needs metabolism in the body to produce diazomethane, which is a strong alkylating agent and may have a major anti-cancer effect. Nimustine hydrochloride concentration may be determined by 3 hours plasma AUC because most Nimustine hydrochloride is excreted from plasma in 3 hours. [Skin Cancer (Japan) 2003; 18: 294-297]
