Concomitant Continuous Infusion Chemotherapy and Radiation

The administration of chemotherapeutic agents by continuous infusion with concomitant radiation therapy heralds a new approach in the treatment of cancer. This comprehensive book on the subject includes, besides a discussion of its scientific basis, the most promising clinical data on the use of continuous infusion chemotherapy and radiation. Thus, it is an important update for clinical investigators involved in frontline research as well as for practicing physicians participating in the direct care of cancer patients. The contributions include the latest results of this new approach in a number of tumor sites. There is a detailed description of the principles of radiosensitization for malignant tumors and radioprotection for normal tissues; these are the principles which have led to concrete clinical applications. There is also a presentation of the most recent data on the beneficial effects resulting from the administration of commonly used drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil, cisplatinum and adriamycin, with concomitant radiation therapy. Much of the data has never before been published. The wealth of information in this volume makes it a valuable reference; at the same time it gives practicing physicians a detailed presentation of various therapeutic regimens which they could administer in their daily clinical practice. In the future, this innovative cancer treatment may lead to the decreased need for radical surgery and the increased ability to preserve organ function.