What are the treatments for cancer?

From the Guidelines

Cancer treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and stem cell transplants, with treatment plans combining multiple approaches based on cancer type, stage, location, and patient factors. The choice of treatment depends on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, as well as the patient's overall health and preferences 1. Some common treatments for cancer include:

• Surgery to remove tumors
• Radiation therapy to kill cancer cells with high-energy beams
• Chemotherapy using drugs like cisplatin, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel to destroy rapidly dividing cells
• Targeted therapies such as imatinib (Gleevec), trastuzumab (Herceptin), and erlotinib (Tarceva) that attack specific cancer-related molecules
• Immunotherapy options like pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) that help the immune system fight cancer
• Hormone therapy for hormone-sensitive cancers, including tamoxifen for breast cancer or leuprolide for prostate cancer
• Stem cell transplants to restore healthy blood cells after high-dose treatments Treatment duration varies widely, from single surgical procedures to years of maintenance therapy, with side effect management being an essential component of comprehensive cancer care 1. Early-stage cancers often respond well to localized treatments like surgery, while advanced cancers may require systemic approaches like chemotherapy 1. It's worth noting that the most recent and highest quality study, 1, provides comprehensive guidelines for breast cancer survivorship care, emphasizing the importance of post-treatment follow-up and management of potential long-term and late effects.

From the FDA Drug Label

For patients with carcinoma of the ovary, the following regimens are recommended:

1. For previously untreated patients with carcinoma of the ovary, one of the following recommended regimens may be given every 3 weeks a. Paclitaxel administered intravenously over 3 hours at a dose of 175 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin at a dose of 75 mg/m 2; b. Paclitaxel administered intravenously over 24 hours at a dose of 135 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin at a dose of 75 mg/m 2. For patients with carcinoma of the breast, the following regimens are recommended:
2. For the adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer, the recommended regimen is paclitaxel, at a dose of 175 mg/m 2 intravenously over 3 hours every 3 weeks for 4 courses administered sequentially to doxorubicin-containing combination chemotherapy For patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma, the recommended regimen, given every 3 weeks, is paclitaxel administered intravenously over 24 hours at a dose of 135 mg/m 2 followed by cisplatin, 75 mg/m 2 For patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, paclitaxel administered at a dose of 135 mg/m 2 given intravenously over 3 hours every 3 weeks or at a dose of 100 mg/m 2 given intravenously over 3 hours every 2 weeks is recommended

The treatments for cancer include:

• Paclitaxel for ovarian, breast, non-small cell lung carcinoma, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma
• Cisplatin for ovarian and non-small cell lung carcinoma
• Doxorubicin for breast cancer
• Cyclophosphamide for ovarian and breast cancer 2 2 2

From the Research

Cancer Treatments

• The common treatments for cancer include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, with chemotherapy being one of the most important treatments 3
• Chemotherapy can be limited due to drug-induced toxicities and resistance, particularly multiple drug resistance (MDR), highlighting the need for novel therapeutic drugs and/or combination therapy 3
• Combination therapies, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, have shown promise in treating various types of cancer, including advanced or recurrent cervical cancer 4 and locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer 5
• The combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab has been found to be effective and safe in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer, with an objective response rate of 88% 4
• Preclinical studies have also explored the combination of paclitaxel and curcumin as a potential strategy to reverse MDR and improve therapeutic efficacy in cancer therapy 3

Early Detection and Treatment

• Early detection, including cancer screening and surveillance, is crucial in modern oncology, with techniques being developed to detect cancer at an early, curable stage 6
• A proactive approach to detecting cancer at an early stage can make treatments more effective, with fewer side effects and improved long-term survival 7
• Advances in sensors, contrast agents, molecular methods, and artificial intelligence are expected to help detect cancer-specific signals in real-time, enabling early intervention and treatment 7