[Cytostatic therapy of gastro-intestinal carcinomas (author's transl)]

The incidence of gastro-intestinal carcinomas in man is rather high as compared to other organ systems; results of cytostatic or x-ray therapy of these tumors, however, on the other hand are rather poor. The majority of malignant tumors of the gastro-intestinal tract metastasizes within 3 years, with the exception of early cancer of the esophagus and stomach, which may be cured completely by surgery in 80-90% of cases if it is detected early enough. After dissemination has occurred, chemotherapy and x-ray therapy may only serve to improve subjective symptoms. 5-Fluorouracil and Methyl-CNU may be effective as palliative therapy in relieving symptoms--as monotherapy in 17-20%, in combination in 25% of all cases. Both substances are increasingly being used in recent times along with substances stimulating the immune system. Controlled prospective clinical studies are needed in the future in order to elucidate the role of additional cytostatic therapy in patients with malignant tumors of the gastro-intestinal tract.