Principles of Chemotherapy

Abstract

The principles underlying the administration of cytotoxic drugs for the treatment of malignant disease differ fundamentally from those of bacterial, fungal, or antiviral infections in that it is not possible to administer a drug that is toxic only to the tumour and therefore some adverse affects on the host are inevitable. The therapeutic ratio is often close to unity and in such circumstances treatment must produce some toxicity in order to induce a worthwhile regression of the tumour. Similarly, the difference between successful therapy and severe or even fatal iatrogenic effects may depend on only minor dose adjustments. It is of the utmost importance therefore to understand those factors which influence response to therapy.