Infusional cancer chemotherapy: historical evolution and future development at the Cancer Center of Boston

Clinical studies of infusional chemotherapy at The Cancer Center of Boston began in 1980 at the New England Deaconess Hospital and from 1986 to the present have continued under the auspices of a network of free-standing ambulatory cancer treatment centers in Massachusetts. Over 50 peer-reviewed articles on infusional chemotherapy and 3 textbooks on the topic have been published by clinical investigators associated with The Center, including phase I, II, and III trials, multidrug infusion programs, and combined chemo/radiotherapy programs. Bringing together the total experience in this review provides a perspective to address those areas that have been inadequately explored and a framework for future development in the field. This paper represents a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of clinical infusional studies carried out at The Center to the present with the goal of achieving those objectives.