Preliminary analysis is presented of a prospective randomized study involving 365 patients with histologically proven unresectable non-oat-cell carcinoma of the lung treated with definitive radiotherapy. The patients were randomized to one of four treatment regimens: 4000 rad split course (2000 rad in five fractions one week, two weeks rest, and an additional 2000 rad in five fractions in one week) or 4000, 5000, or 6000-rad continuous courses in five fractions per week. Ninety to 100 patients were accessioned to each group. The one-year survival rate is 50% and the two-year survival rate, 25%. The patients treated with the split course have the lowest survival rate (10% at two years) in comparison with the other groups (range = 20-25%). The complete and partial local regression of tumor was 49% in patients treated with 4000 rad and 55% in the groups treated with 5000 and 6000 rad. For patients who achieved complete regression of the tumor following irradiation, the two-year survival rate is 40%, in contrast to 20% for those with partial regression, and no survivors among the patients with stable or progressive disease. The incidence of intrathoracic recurrence was 33% for patients treated with 6000 rad, 39% for those receiving 5000 rad, and 44-49% for those treated with a 4000-rad split or continuous course. At present, the data strongly suggest that patients treated with 5000 or 6000 rad have a better response, tumor control, and survival rate than those receiving lower doses. However, additional followup of patients at risk in each group will be necessary before a final conclusion is drawn. Patients with high performance status (Kornofsky index higher than 70), or with tumors in earlier stages (T,N2 or T,N,) have a two-year survival rate of approximately 40%, in comparison with 20% for other patients. The various irradiation regimens have been well tolerated, with complications being slightly higher in the 4000-rad split course group (10 severe and 2 lifethreatening) and in the 6000-rad continuous course group (9 severe and 4 life-threatening). The most frequent complications have been pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and dysphagia due to transient esophagitis. Further investigation will be necessary before the optimal management of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma by irradiation is established.Cancer Approximately 100,000 new cases and 90,000 deaths are projected for 1980. Because of the difficulty in making an early diagnosis and the propensity of the

Twenty‐eight patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal were treated by preoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The radiation therapy was given for 3000 rad (30 Gy) at 200 rad per day, 5 days a week, to the primary tumor with margin and to the pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes. Chemotherapy was given in the form of 5‐fluorouracil infusion 1000 mg/m2 on days 1–4 of the radiation therapy and repeated on days 29–32 of the treatment regimen. Mitomycin C was given in the form of intravenous bolus for 15 mg/m2 on day 1. Surgery was done 4–6 weeks following the last day of radiation treatment. Twelve patients underwent anteroposterior resection, and seven of the 12 had no residual tumor in the surgical specimen, while one patient had microscopic tumor only. An additional 14 patients had complete clinical disappearance of their tumor, and, on excision of the scar, it was found free of microscopic cancer. Two other patients are clinically free of tumor but had no biopsy after therapy. While transient proctitis leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were moderate to severe, no serious complications were observed in these patients. Twenty‐two patients are free of tumor and alive one to eight years after treatment. One patient died a cardiac death without tumor four years after surgery. Four patients, all with residual tumor in the specimen, have died of cancer. Their primary lesions were more than 7 cm in maximum diameter at initial examination. One patient died of disseminated disease with no local recurrence after abdominal perineal resection.

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Twenty-one patients with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus were entered into a pilot clinical trial using preoperative chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and cis-platinum) and radiation with the intent of improving cure rate and survival. After the preoperative treatment was complete, 15 patients (71%) were resected for cure. Seven (47%) of 15 had no histologic evidence of cancer in the resected esophagus, but two of these had microscopic cancer in resected lymph nodes. The median survival for all patients entered in the trial was 18 months, whereas for those with no cancer in the resected esophagus the median survival was 24 months. The six patients who either refused surgery (two patients) or were unresectable at surgery (four patients) died within nine months. Our conclusion in this trial is that survival and potential cure are clearly linked to successfully clearing the esophagus and nodes of histologic evidence of tumor through preoperative treatment.