New directions in cancer treatment

During the last few decades, there has been a tremendous improvement in the treatment of cancer. There is evidence that this trend is continuing, based on the achievements re­ sulting from the combined efforts of clinicians and basic re­ search workers. This book is an example of such interaction and collaboration. It was prepared by authors representing both areas of work. Most of the work reported in this book is not merely theoretical, but has been experimentally successfully tested and sometimes applied clinically. This work has, however, not yet been generalized and practiced on a wide scale. Some of the results reported here relate to new aspects and open new horizons for future progress. This book will be of great value for both clinicians and basic research workers. VICC Treatment and Rehabilitation Programme ISMAIL ELSEBAI Chairman Preface The three main approaches to the treatment of cancer are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Today, all malignant neoplasms are managed by one or more of these modalities, with varying success rates depending on the type of tumor, its degree of spread, and the knowl­ edge and skill with which the treatment plan has been designed and executed. In the United States of America and in Europe, approximate­ ly half of all cancer is presently curable, but this has been the case for approximately 20 years.