Current problems in the use of the oncolytic drugs.

For the patient whose cancer is detected early and whose tumor has not yet become disseminated, surgical resection and radiation therapy offer a good possibility for cure. For the less fortunate patient whose tumor has spread too widely for surgery or radiation to be potentially curative, the physician is justified in employing oncolytic drugs. Oncolytic drugs do not help every patient and are usually not curative. However, in some cases if carefully used, they can produce tumor regression, alleviate distressing symptoms and prolong survival for significant periods of time. Tabs, i and 2 list the more commonly occurring neoplastic diseases of adulthood and indicate which of the oncolytic drugs are most likely to be effective in their treatment. These tables also provide some information on the type of benefit which may result from these drugs. Tab. 3 lists some of the more common childhood malignancies and provides information on their chemotherapeutic treatment. It should be noted that the prognosis of childhood cancer is better than that of adult cancer and that chemotherapy is potentially curative in an appreciable percentage of cases even after they have become widely disseminated. Tab. 1. Remiss ion and prolongation of life