Chemotherapeutic and biologic radiation enhancement

The main objectives of concomitant chemoradiotherapy are to increase local tumor control, decrease the incidence of distant metastases, and improve survival. In addition, concomitant therapy may reduce long-term cancer therapy morbidity either by reducing the need for radical surgery or by permitting the use of lower radiation doses. This article briefly summarizes the rationale for concomitant chemoradiotherapy and summarizes the most recent clinical experience for selected solid tumors. In addition, recent data that suggest additive or synergistic interaction between radiation and certain biologic response modifiers such as tumor necrosis factor and interferon are reviewed.