Chemotherapy offers the potential for cure or substantial palliation of numerous malignancies. However, its effective use requires a carefully developed strategy to overcome the barriers presented by a variety of neoplasms. Curative treatment for those human malignancies that show sensitivity to the available drugs requires combinations of drugs in "dose intense" regimens. Autologous bone marrow transplants and cytokines allow larger doses of drugs and possibly will improve the cure rates. Maximum compliance and prevention of drug toxicity are essential.