Chemotherapy enhancement of radiosensitivity and clinical radiocurability

Evidence for chemical sensitization of radiation in clinical radiotherapy is reviewed. Some topics discussed are: incorporation of IUDR and BUDR into DNA; and metabolic inhibition of DNA synthesis using 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, hydroxyurea, and actinomycin D. It was concluded that clinical exploitation of known radiation sensitizers is still to be accomplished and that drugs that are not sensitizers but that are in themselves tumoricidal may still be found useful. (U.S.)