Fifteen cancer specialists from the People's Republic of China visited the Medical School last week, the first such American visit to be sponsored by a private organization.

The visit, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, was part of a three-week study tour that brought the oncologists to New York, Washington, Los Angeles and other cities.

Martin Bander, deputy to the general director of the Massachusetts General Hospital, where the scientists also visited, said Tuesday the meetings produced "an interchange of information."

"This provides an opportunity for people to learn about the strengths or weakness of the medicine practiced in each other's countries," Bander said.

New Relations

Last week's meetings represented the third time in the last month that Harvard and its teaching hospitals were hosts to groups of scientists from countries that are just beginning to establish relations with scientists in the U.S.

A group of physicians from Cuba toured the School of Public Health last month for the first time in 18 years, and Saudi Arabian medical students recently observed clinical training in the Harvard teaching hospitals.

The Chinese physicians' visit to Harvard included tours of the Cox Cancer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Sidney Farber Cancer Institute and the oncology ward at Children's Hospital Medical Center.