RT Book, Section A1 Chen, Eric X. A2 Tannock, Ian F. A2 Hill, Richard P. A2 Bristow, Robert G. A2 Harrington, Lea SR Print(0) ID 1127473340 T1 Pharmacology of Anticancer Drugs T2 The Basic Science of Oncology, 5e YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Education Medical PP New York, NY SN 9780071745208 LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1127473340 RD 2024/03/28 AB In this chapter, general principles of pharmacology relevant to anticancer drugs are presented. The specific properties of the most important anticancer drugs in clinical use are reviewed, with emphasis on their structure, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. In systemic cancer therapy, it is common to combine several drugs. Drugs in such combinations generally have different mechanisms of action, and different toxicity profiles, so that each drug can be administered at close to its maximally tolerated dose. Combination therapy may overcome tumor resistance to an individual drug, and is generally more efficacious than a single drug. It is also common to combine surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in treatment. Adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation are usually given after the definitive management of the primary cancer through surgery. The purpose of adjuvant chemotherapy is to eradicate micrometastatic disease, and reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. Adjuvant chemotherapy is given for a defined period of time, generally 4 to 6 months. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy refers to chemotherapy given before the definitive management of the primary cancer, and is given to reduce the size of the primary tumor for better cosmetic and functional outcomes.