Sequential multidrug chemotherapy and radiotherapy with possible surgery for locally advanced cancer.
A preliminary report describes the use of both a single and a combined chemotherapeutic drug regime before radiotherapy for locally advanced and radioresistant cancers. Some tumours have been rendered operable with safety by this sequence. This method is suggested to replace the current practice of following surgery with radiotherapy and finally chemotherapy. In our experience, chemotherapy before radiotherapy is assisting in the effective control of locally advanced and hitherto radioresistant cancers of many types, and in converting inoperable cancers into cancers that can be resected sometimes with safety. Also, when chemotherapeutic drugs are given before radiotherapy, damage to normal adjacent tissue is less than that seen after radiotherapy alone.