The chemotherapy of solid tumors followed the path opened by breast cancer:
the use of active single agents combined for greater effectiveness in advanced disease and
for their potential role in combined modality regimens. By the end of the 1960s, over 20
chemotherapeutic drugs effective against various malignancies were available to
investigate these approaches. The use of combination chemotherapy in epithelial ovarian
cancer, small cell lung cancer and osteogenic sarcoma showed improved response rates and
duration of remission compared to previously used single drugs. Postoperative combination
chemotherapy improved the survival of patients with osteogenic sarcomas.
Keywords: Ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer, osteogenic sarcoma.
