1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                                                         RESPONSE ONCOLOGY, INC.
                                                         1805 MORIAH WOODS BLVD.
                                                         MEMPHIS, TN 38117
                                                         (901) 761-7000
                                                         NASDAQ: ROIX


                                       
AT THE COMPANY:                           AT THE FINANCIAL RELATIONS BOARD (WWW.FRBINC.COM):
Anthony LaMacchia                         Marilyn Windsor       Leslie Loyet         Cynthia Martin
President & Chief Executive Officer       General Information   Analysts/Investors   Media Inquiries
(800) 323-3719                            (312) 640-6692        (312) 640-6672       (312) 640-6741
tlamacchia@responseoncology.com           mwindsor@bsmg.com     lloyet@bsmg.com      cmartin@bsmg.com



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2001


              RESPONSE ONCOLOGY FILES VOLUNTARY CHAPTER 11 PETITION

MEMPHIS, TENN., MARCH 30, 2001--RESPONSE ONCOLOGY, INC. (NASD OTCBB: ROIX),
announced today that the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (Response
Oncology Management of South Florida, Inc., Response Oncology of Fort
Lauderdale, Inc. and Response Oncology of Tamarac, Inc.) filed on March 29, 2001
voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of
Tennessee. The Company also announced that the filing of its annual report on
Form 10-K will be delayed until on or about April 17, 2001.

The Company will continue to service its patients, affiliated physicians and
customers while developing a plan to reorganize its capital structure and
strengthen its financial condition.

Response Oncology, Inc. is a comprehensive cancer management company. The
Company provides advanced cancer treatment services through outpatient
facilities known as IMPACT Centers under the direction of practicing
oncologists; compounds and dispenses pharmaceuticals to certain medical oncology
practices for a fee; owns the assets of and manages the nonmedical aspects of
oncology practices; and conducts clinical research on behalf of pharmaceutical
manufacturers. Approximately 300 medical oncologists are affiliated with the
Company through these programs.

This release contains discussions of items which may constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Although Response
Oncology believes that expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements
are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its
expectations will be achieved. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) a
continued decline in high dose chemotherapy referrals and approvals due to the
high dose chemotherapy breast cancer results; (ii) a continued decline in
margins for cancer drugs; (iii) the Company's inability to raise additional
capital or refinance existing debt; (iv) uncertainty pertaining to the outcome
of the Chapter 11 filing by the Company; and (v) issues regarding the
implementation of the Company's new business plan. For more information
regarding risk factors, please refer to the Company's 1999 Form 10-K.