Current trends and prospects in surgical adjuvant trials.

New concepts and treatments currently available for adjuvant studies are illustrated by a review of ongoing studies sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. More thorough information is needed on immunotherapeutic agents to allow more rationale in the use of these agents. Solid bases to properly select drugs or drug combinations for adjuvant purposes are being established. However, dose-schedule and duration of treatment are still to be defined. Strategies directed at prolonging the benefit of surgical adjuvant chemotherapy remain to be planned. Progress continuously achieved with immunotherapy and chemotherapy should rapidly broaden the spectrum of tumour types to be included in adjuvant studies.