Chemotherapy regimen

A chemotherapy regimen is a regimen for chemotherapy, defining the drugs to be used, their dosage, the frequency and duration of treatments, and other considerations. In modern oncology, many regimens combine several chemotherapy drugs in combination chemotherapy. The majority of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy are cytostatic, many via cytotoxicity.

A fundamental philosophy of medical oncology, including combination chemotherapy, is that different drugs work through different mechanisms, and that the results of using multiple drugs will be synergistic to some extent. Because they have different dose-limiting adverse effects, they can be given together at full doses in chemotherapy regimens.^[1]

The first successful combination chemotherapy was MOPP, introduced in 1963 for lymphomas.

The term "induction regimen" refers to a chemotherapy regimen used for the initial treatment of a disease. A "maintenance regimen" refers to the ongoing use of chemotherapy to reduce the chances of a cancer recurring or to prevent an existing cancer from continuing to grow.^[2]

^ Mayer RJ (February 2009). "Targeted therapy for advanced colorectal cancer—more is not always better". N Engl J Med. 360 (6): 623–5. doi:10.1056/NEJMe0809343. PMID 19196680. letter commenting on the Clinical trial: Tol J, Koopman M, Cats A, Rodenburg CJ, Creemers GJ, Schrama JG, Erdkamp FL, Vos AH, van Groeningen CJ, Sinnige HA, Richel DJ, Voest EE, Dijkstra JR, Vink-Börger ME, Antonini NF, Mol L, van Krieken JH, Dalesio O, Punt CJ (February 2009). "Chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer". N Engl J Med. 360 (6): 563–72. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0808268. hdl:2066/79995. PMID 19196673.
^ Cancer.net - Explaining Maintenance Therapy

[1] Mayer RJ (February 2009). "Targeted therapy for advanced colorectal cancer—more is not always better". N Engl J Med. 360 (6): 623–5. doi:10.1056/NEJMe0809343. PMID 19196680. letter commenting on the Clinical trial: Tol J, Koopman M, Cats A, Rodenburg CJ, Creemers GJ, Schrama JG, Erdkamp FL, Vos AH, van Groeningen CJ, Sinnige HA, Richel DJ, Voest EE, Dijkstra JR, Vink-Börger ME, Antonini NF, Mol L, van Krieken JH, Dalesio O, Punt CJ (February 2009). "Chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer". N Engl J Med. 360 (6): 563–72. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0808268. hdl:2066/79995. PMID 19196673.

[2] Cancer.net - Explaining Maintenance Therapy

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