Treatment Strategies
Chemotherapeutic agents are used in the following strategies:
STRATEGY: ADJUVANT
In an adjuvant treatment strategy, a short course of high dose, usually combination drugs is given after radiation or surgery to destroy residual tumour cells.
STRATEGY: CONSOLIDATION
In a consolidation treatment strategy, chemotherapy is given after induction therapy has achieved a complete remission. The regimen is repeated to increase the cure rate or to prolong patient survival.
STRATEGY: INDUCTION
The term induction is commonly used in the treatment of haematological malignancies. It refers to the use of usually a combination of high dose drugs to induce a complete response when initiating a curative regimen.
STRATEGY: INTENSIFICATION
In an intensification strategy, after complete remission is achieved, the same agents used for induction are given at higher doses, or different agents are given at high doses to effect a better cure rate or a longer remission.
STRATEGY: MAINTENANCE
In a maintenance strategy, single or combination, low dose cytotoxic drugs are used on a long term basis in patients who are in complete remission to delay regrowth of residual cancer cells.
STRATEGY: NEOADJUVANT
In a neoadjuvant strategy, adjuvant chemotherapeutic drugs are used during the pre- or peri-operative period.
STRATEGY: PALLIATIVE
In a palliative strategy, chemotherapy is given to prolong the patient's life or to control symptoms if a cure is impossible.
STRATEGY: SALVAGE
In a salvage strategy, a potentially curative high dose regimen is given to a patient whose symptoms have recurred or whose treatment has failed with another regimen.