Investigation Of Uses Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 10

Investigation Of Uses Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 30. Chemical agents have an important role to play in the treatment of cancer, according to an Auckland surgeon. Mr K. M. Ewen, who returned

from Australia at the weekend. “But their exact position in the spectrum of therapeutants is not yet fully established." he said. Recently appointed by the Auckland Hospital Board to co-ordinate cancer chemotherapy, Mr Ewen visited hospitals and research laboratories in Sydney and Melbourne to investigate aspects of the treatment of cancer by drugs.

"The treatment of cancer by these agents is still in the formative stage,” he said. “Treatment with drugs does not, in any way, replace the more orthodox methods of treatment now available. They are simply an additional factor in the over-all treatment of the disease."

Many hundreds of thousands of pounds were being spent on medical research in Australia, and a large part of it was going on cancer research. Throughout the world hundreds of cytotoxic drugs were being used and tested in cancer chemotherapy programmes.

“These drugs are all potentially dangerous, and must be used with very great care,” said Mr Ewen. “Every one of them is poisonous to the tissues if taken in overdose."