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SEER Inquiry System - Report
Produced: 10/26/2025 12:43 PM
Question 20021162
Inquiry Details
References:
#1: 2004 SEER Manual, 190
#2: SEER Book 8
Question:
Chemotherapy: Should radiosensitizing chemotherapy agents (i.e., drugs typically coded as treatment for cancer) be coded as treatment when they are given in combination with radiation therapy with the intention of enhancing that treatment? See discussion.
Discussion:
Per our consultant, these drugs are given at a lower dose than that typically given to treat cancer patients.
Answer:
Do not code radiosensitizers and radioprotectants as cancer-directed therapy. Drugs typically classified as chemotherapy agents would be "ancillary drugs" for the purpose of coding cancer-directed therapy because the drugs are given at a much lower dosage than that typically given to treat cancer patients. Per Book 8, ancillary drugs are not to be coded as cancer-directed therapy. Radiosensitizers and radioprotectants do not work directly on the cancer and are not coded under any of the systemic therapy fields.
