The European Organization for Research into Cancer Treatment (OERTC),
founded in 1962 initially under the name Groupe Europeen de
Chimiotherapie Anti- cancereuse (GECA), is an extramural European
Institute for collecting, co-ordinating and encouraging the work of
scientists researching into cancer treatment at 16 European institutes:
3 in W. Germany, 2 in Italy, 2 in Belgium, 3 in the Netherlands, 2 in
the United Kingdom, 1 in Switzerland and 3 in France. The first
President of OERTC was Professor GEORGES MATHE, now succeeded by
Professor SILVIO GARATTINI of Milan. The organization has a Board of 20
Directors, responsible for co-ordinating the entire range of activities
and guiding research and experimental studies on animals, also the first
human trials of new therapeutic agents which have been fully tested on
animals. The Co-operating Groups carry out com- plementary testing
involving large numbers of patients. Thus, OER TC is not a "learned
society" but an agency for co-ordinating work. OER TC's annual plenary
meeting for 1968 was held in Paris on 22nd and 23rd March. It was given
over to an intensive study of the scientific basis of chemotherapy in
the treatment of cancer in man. These two working sessions brought
together members of all groups, both directing and co-operating. The
first day was in effect a teaching seminar, open to all practitioners
wishing to use chemotherapy in cancer, and explaining the scientific
basis of such treatment. This seminar constitutes the present monograph.