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Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs in standard regimens and may be curative or palliative depending on intent.
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapeutic agents, including alkylating agents) given in standard regimens. It may be used with curative intent—often requiring combinations of drugs—or to prolong life and reduce symptoms in a palliative setting. In modern usage, chemotherapy refers to the non-specific action of intracellular poisons that inhibit mitosis (cell division) or induce DNA damage, distinguishing it from more selective hormonal therapies and targeted therapies that block specific growth signals. The goals of chemotherapy depend on the clinical situation and cancer stage. It can be used as first-line induction therapy for curative treatment, as neoadjuvant therapy before local treatment (such as surgery) to shrink tumors, and as adjuvant therapy after local treatment to eliminate remaining microscopic disease and reduce relapse. Other strategies include consolidation and intensification (post-remission approaches), maintenance therapy (repeated low-dose treatment to prolong remission), and salvage/palliative chemotherapy (without curative intent) to decrease tumor burden and increase life expectancy. Across regimens, treatment is typically delivered in cycles, with dosing and timing limited by toxicity and the need to continue killing tumor cells over multiple rounds.
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs in standard regimens and may be curative or palliative depending on intent.
Its action is largely non-specific: it inhibits cell division and/or damages DNA to stress cells and trigger cell death.
Common goals include shrinking tumors before local therapy, eradicating microscopic disease after local therapy, prolonging remission, and reducing tumor burden when cure is not possible.
Chemotherapy is usually delivered in cycles, with dosing adjusted based on effectiveness and tolerability (toxicity).
Anti-cancer drugs used in chemotherapy to inhibit cell division and/or damage DNA.
Chemotherapy given with the intent to achieve cure, often using combination drug regimens.
Chemotherapy given to prolong life and reduce symptoms rather than to cure the cancer.
First-line chemotherapy used for curative intent to start treatment and reduce disease.
Chemotherapy given before local treatment (e.g., surgery) to shrink the primary tumor.
Chemotherapy given after local treatment to eliminate residual microscopic cancer and reduce recurrence.
Repeated low-dose chemotherapy given to prolong remission.
Chemotherapy given without curative intent to reduce tumor burden and improve life expectancy.
The concept that only a fraction of tumor cells die with each treatment cycle, requiring repeated dosing to further reduce tumor size.
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