Cancer Chemotherapy

Abstract

Compared to radiotherapy and surgery, chemotherapy is a relatively new modality of treatment for cancer. When chemotherapeutic agents, including antibiotics, became widespread in the treatment of bacterial infections, it was natural that a search would be made for a ‘magic bullet’ which would selectively kill all cancer cells. The search still continues for the ideal drug though, in the meantime, over 30 active drugs have been discovered and are in regular clinical use (figure 14.1). It is no exaggeration to say that the development of effective drugs to treat cancer has significantly modified the clinical course of various types of cancers and, perhaps even more so, has altered the philosophy of treatment for many tumours.