A. William Blackstock, Jr, MD

We also propose that limiting the watch-and-wait strategy to patients with T1/T2N0 rectal cancer and using adequate T staging with MRI will result in improvements in local control and patient outcomes.

Early clinical studies combining irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar) and gemcitabine (Gemzar) have yielded encouraging results. Gemcitabine administered via a twice-weekly schedule results in an enhanced radiation-sensitizing effect.

In an attempt to improve the grave prognosis associated with the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, researchers have explored a number of novel therapies. These include hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, radiopharmaceuticals, and novel chemotherapeutic agents.

The authors present a thorough review of the mechanisms and clinical effects of fluoropyrimidine radiation sensitization. As they discuss, abundant clinical data from multiple tumor sites show improved outcome when radiation is delivered in