Multimodal Concepts for Integration of Cytotoxic Drugs

Over recent decades, combined modality treatment has drastically improved the cure rates for various malignant tumors. Further progress is expected through the design of sound combinations involving recently developed drugs. The first part of this book summarizes the rationale and the preclinical data for combined treatment with ionizing radiation and pharmaceutical agents. Individual chapters focus on different forms of combined treatment, with due consideration being given to a range of drugs and to emerging combinations with small molecules and antibodies, derived from recent advances in molecular oncology. The second part of the book comprises a series of disease-specific chapters in which the clinical results of combined modality treatment are presented. In addition, the topics of acute and late toxicity, supportive treatment and tolerance in elderly patients are reviewed. All of the chapters have been written by basic scientists and clinicians who are acknowledged experts in the field. The text is specifically designed to be accessible to professionals from the various disciplines involved in multidisciplinary cancer care and to residents in radiation oncology training programs.