Upper-half body irradiation for oat cell carcinoma of the bronchus

Small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the bronchus (SCCB) is considered to be a chemosensitive tumour. For many physicians, chemotherapy is the treatment of first choice. However, despite prolonged and aggressive therapy, overall 2-year survival of less than 10% may be expected (Spiro, 1985), which, for example, is very similar to the bad prognosis associated with high-grade cerebral gliomas (Bloom, 1982). Radiotherapy has an established role in the palliation of advanced disease. We have previously investigated the use of single, large fractions of radiotherapy in patients with drugresistant multiple myeloma and shown excellent responses and prolonged survival (Rostom et al, 1984). As the majority of patients present with disseminated disease, we have investigated the use of a single fraction of radiotherapy to the upper half of the body (including the liver) in 24 patients with SCCB. Twenty-four patients (11 male and 13 female) with small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the bronchus have been treated with upp...