Fundamental and clinical studies of low-dose total body irradiation in tumor control

Total body irradiation of 10 rad showed an enhancement effect on tumor cell killing when given 12 hours before local tumor irradiation. In order to clarify the mechanism of this kind of effect, some immunological studies were performed using several immunological procedures, and the results suggested that 10 rad of total body irradiation caused increasing tumor immunity in irradiated tumor bearing mice. Clinical trials in some patients with advanced tumors are now being undertaken on the basis of these experimental data, and the effect of total body irradiation tumor control appears promising although it is too early to draw conclusions.