Between 1964 and 1978, 21 patients with locally extensive soft tissue sarcoma received intal-arterial regional chemotherapy (IAC), combined with radiotherapy. Some patients were also submitted to conservative surgery. Although there were three serious accidents, one of which was lethal, the tolerance was considered acceptable. Tumor regression of more than 50 per cent was observed in 9 of the 21 patients after chemotherapy. Overall, the addition of IAC to radiation therapy gave satisfactory local control. Recurrent local disease occurred in only four patients. On the basis of these results IAC can be considered as an important element of combined treatment methods to achieve local control in locally extensive soft tissue sarcomas, which are generally not very responsive to systemic chemotherapy.