1979 Volume 19 Issue 4 Pages 325-330
30 patients of unresectable primary lung cancer were treated with polychemotherapy and small dose irradiation concurrently. Intermittent small dose irradiation was used onpurpose to sensitize the tumor cells to the effect of the chemotherapy. Patients were irradiated 200 rads on day 1, immediately before the intravenous administration of anticancer agents. (for example, Cyclophosphamide 20 mg./kg., Vincristine l mg., 5-Fluorouracil 250mg. in small cell carcinoma.) From day 2 to day 7, patients were given 250mg. of 5-Fluorouracil intravenously. Therapy was continued for 4 weeks, and the effect was evaluated on chest X-ray films. Regression of tumor size more than 50% calculated by product of two perpendicular diameters was defined as an objective response.
Overall response rate was 53%. The response rate in relation to cell type was, 100% in small cell carcinoma (10/10), 67% in large cell carcinoma (2/3), 33% in epidermoid carcinoma (2/6), and 18% in adenocarcinoma (2/1 1).
No remarkable side effect to the addition of small dose irradiation was observed.
