Growth delay studies in patients with multiple metastases

Patients with multiple measurable metastases can be used as their own perfectly matched controls to study the effect of different treatments on their metastases. Response to treatment may be assessed by sequential measurement of the regression and regrowth of the metastases and by assessment of the growth delay produced by each treatment. Three patients are described who were studied in this way to investigate the addition of misonidazole to radiation. The results suggested that is possible to obtain quantitative data that will discriminate between relatively small doses of radiation and provide interesting clinical information on tumour response. The problems of the method and its possible applications are discussed. (author)