Radio-chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced cancer

Tests in vitro and first clinical studies proved a radiosensitizing effect of cisplatin. In our study 40 patients with advanced resistant cancer of head, neck, lungs and rectum were treated by conventional radiotherapy and cisplatin. The drug was administrated in 10 mg after each irradiation. The tumor dose varied between 30-50 Gy in 3-5 weeks, within the total dose cisplatin 150-250 mg. In more than 70% of cases remarkable retreat of tumors, in some cases even a complete regression, were observed. Adverse reactions and toxicity often associated with administration of platin were very mild, so that even patients in rather poor physical condition could have been treated. Having performed no special hydratation serious nephrotoxicity was never observed. The potentiation of radiation by cisplatin can be therefore considered a relatively harmless treatment of inoperable advanced cancers useful especially in cases where other forms of palliative treatment have been exhausted or not feasible.