George P. Canellos, MD

The major value of RT is in enhancement of local control. In localized disease, perhaps this is best achieved by using RT for patients treated with less than full-dose/course chemotherapy.

The likelihood that combined-modality therapy will provide a small progression-free survival advantage is real but not likely to be equated to an overall survival advantage, as it depends on when one looks at the data. The studies to date demonstrate a late fall-off in survival due to one or another toxic effect of radiation.