A Review - The Role of Chemotherapy of Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Cancer is a chronic, multifactorial, and heterogeneous condition, comprising a group of diseases. Its high prevalence and complex interactions among risk factors mean that even subtle influences can lead to significant effects. Cancer happens when cells grow out of control and form harmful tumors, leading to millions of deaths every year. Cancer treatment involves various approaches, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplantation, each tailored to the type, stage, and individual characteristics of the disease. The importance of chemotherapy in cancer treatment is steadily increasing, particularly when used as an adjuvant to local therapies such as surgery or radiation. Moreover, in advanced stages where the tumor has spread beyond its original site, chemotherapy plays a growing role in relieving cancer-related symptoms and extending patient survival.

Introduction

1. What is Cancer?

• Cancer is a group of diseases involving uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, which can invade nearby tissues and organs.

• Cancer cells:

  • Ignore signals to stop dividing.

  • Hijack nutrients and oxygen from healthy cells.

  • Evade the immune system and modify their environment for survival.

2. Global Impact

• Second leading cause of death worldwide.

• Common types by population:

  • Men: Prostate, lung, colorectal, bladder.

  • Women: Breast, lung, colorectal, uterus, thyroid.

  • Children: Leukemia, brain tumors, lymphatic cancers.

3. Major Types of Cancer

4. Symptoms of Cancer

Common signs may include:

• Unexplained fatigue, weight changes, or pain

• Lumps or swelling

• Bleeding, bruising, or unusual skin/mole changes

• Digestive or urinary issues

• Persistent cough, hoarseness, headaches, or vision problems

5. Cancer Treatment Approaches

A. Surgery

• Oldest method, used for localized tumors.

B. Radiotherapy

• Uses ionizing radiation to destroy cancer DNA, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

C. Chemotherapy

• Uses drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells.

• Historically used for palliation; now also for curative and adjuvant purposes.

D. Immunotherapy & Biological Therapy

• Enhances the body’s immune response to cancer.

• Works differently from chemotherapy (zero-order vs. first-order kinetics).

6. Chemotherapy: In Detail

A. Definition

• Systemic treatment using anticancer drugs that interfere with cancer cell growth and division.

B. Mechanisms of Action

• Alkylating Agents: Damage DNA.

• Antimetabolites: Mimic DNA/RNA to block synthesis.

• Antitumor Antibiotics: Inhibit cell reproduction.

• Topoisomerase Inhibitors: Prevent DNA unwinding.

• Mitotic Inhibitors: Disrupt cell division.

• Corticosteroids: Control inflammation and support treatment.

C. Ideal Chemotherapy Agent Characteristics

• Selective toxicity

• Good solubility and chemical stability

• Non-allergenic

• Resistance prevention

• Long shelf life

• Affordable

(Note: No single agent meets all criteria—50% is considered excellent.)

? Summary in Bullet Points

• Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell growth and can affect any body part.

• It is a major global health concern with varied prevalence by age and gender.

• Classified based on cell or tissue of origin into types like carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemias, etc.

• Early symptoms often include fatigue, weight loss, lumps, pain, and organ-specific changes.

• Treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

• Chemotherapy works via various mechanisms to kill or inhibit cancer cells and is used for both curative and supportive care.

Conclusion

This review concisely summarize the chemotherapy in cancer treatment, considering their advantage and disadvantage. Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells grow and divide without control. This uncontrolled growth is often caused by changes (mutations) in the signals that regulate the cell cycle. In healthy cells, tumor suppressor genes act like brakes to slow or stop cell division. Cancer cells bypass these controls, allowing them to avoid cell death and continue dividing indefinitely. Chemotherapy is one of several cancer treatment options, along with surgery, radiation therapy, and targeted molecular therapy. Although chemotherapy can be effective in treating certain types of cancer, its use is often limited by side effects. Some drugs produce toxic by-products that build up in the liver, causing liver damage (hepatotoxicity) and leading to symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, constipation, anemia, tiredness, fever, and hair loss. Chemotherapy treatment hold a brighter future towards creating a cancer free world.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Prof. Sayyad Kaufiya, Ms. Kanade Rutuja, Ms. Irkar Indrayani, Ms. Suryawanshi Mayuri, Ms. Gaikwad Sharyu. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.