CANCER

April 1975

No. 4

BOOK REVIEW
Recent Results in Cancer Research, Vol. 49:
Complications of Cancer Chemotherapy
George Math6 and R. K. Oldham, Eds.
New York-Heidelberg-Berlin, Springer-Verlag, 1974
i n the initial paragraph of their introduction, the editors Math6 and Oldham
point out that chemotherapy has been slow to develop and "its ultimate potential
i s today somewhat in doubt." To some extent its potential i s constantly hampered

by its associated toxicity. This volume deals with all forms of toxicity and does

so exhaustively and all-inclusively. The contributors are from a host of institutions

in various countries, the majority being medical-hematologists, whose activities
are a t the leading edge of chemotherapy.
There i s a n interesting section on the predictability of dog and monkey
screening as carried out i n the Division of Cancer Treatment (NCI), the conclusion
being that such models are predictable but certainly more in a qualitative than
quantitative fashion. There follows a section on the biological basis of hematologic
toxicity, followed by a very timely handling of the effects of various agents on
the immunologic system, including suggestions on how optimum use might be
made o f such interaction between drugs and immune capability. There i s an
excellent review of the role of infections i n cancer i n general and specifically as
the result of the use of chemotherapeutic agents. In view of the fact that infection

i s a leading cause of cancer death, the detailed description of the principal types
of infections and infectious agents, and the presentation of information on fungal
infections seem most timely. There follow several chapters dealing with newer
treatments of the complications themselves, especially the use of white cell
transfusions i n leukemic patients with infection, and the use of transfer factor i n
patients with Hodgkin's disease. There are two chapters on the development of
"second tumors;" the possible causative role of intense therapy in the production
of such second tumors i s reviewed. A large experience with long-term complications of therapy of Hodgkin's disease a t the National Cancer institute, and the
long-term effects of intensive x-ray therapy, drug therapy, and immunosuppressive
therapy in a group of patients treated a t the Cancer institute i n Villejuif and the
Institute of Research i n Paris follow.

This i s a book for the specialist which i s appropriately short on background

principles and theory, and assumes a fair degree of familiarity with the basics
of cancer therapy. It i s certainly practical and contains much applicable material.
its life expectancy w i l l naturally be short, dealing as i t does with experimental
situations and frequently changing therapies. Nevertheless, such orderly reviews
are necessary and perhaps even more so i n a field so quickly evolving. I would
recommend i t to the practicing chemotherapist as a most comprehensive and up-todate catalogue of the potential complications attendant on a l l forms of cancer
chemotherapy.
Francis E. Rosato, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Surgery
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Norfolk, VA 23507

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