[Definite indications for chemotherapy of solid tumors?]

Thirteen human malignant tumors can be cured in a high percentage by combined modality treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) even if patients suffer from advanced disease. In other neoplasms accounting for about 40% of all tumors, intensive treatment leads to good palliation and significant prolongation of survival time. An important prerequisite for this success is a comprehensive pretherapeutic diagnostic work-up that reveals the extent of disease. Side effects after intensive therapy cannot be completely avoided, but can be alleviated. The complex interrelationship of interdisciplinary therapeutic measures in the context of combination modality treatment makes it necessary that patients with potentially curable neoplasms be treated at cancer centres.