Francisca Silva*
Department of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
Received: 01-Jun-2023, Manuscript No. RCT-23- 101298; Editor assigned: 05- Jun -2023, PreQC No. RCT-23- 101298 (PQ); Reviewed: 19-Jun- 2023, QC No. RCT-23- 101298; Revised: 26-Jun-2023, Manuscript No. RCT-23- 101298 (R); Published: 03-Jul-2023, DOI: 10.4172/Rep Cancer Treat.7.2.007.
Citation: Silva F. The Current Perspective of Adjuvant Therapy and It’s Future Outlook. RRJ Cancer and Treatment. 2023; 7: 007.
Copyright: © 2023 Silva F. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Adjuvant therapy refers to the additional treatment given after the primary treatment of cancer, such as surgery or radiation therapy, to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence or to treat undetectable metastases. Adjuvant therapy has been proven to improve survival rates in many types of cancer and is an important component of cancer treatment. The most commonly used adjuvant therapy is chemotherapy, which involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often given with a specific schedule, such as a certain number of cycles over a set period of time [1]. The length and intensity of chemotherapy depend on the type of cancer, stage, and other individual patient factors. Another type of adjuvant therapy is radiation therapy, which uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells or prevent their growth. Radiation therapy is often given after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in the nearby area. Recently, there has been a rapid advancement in adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment. One of the most exciting developments is the use of targeted therapies, which target specific molecules or pathways that are important for cancer cell growth. These drugs can be given as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy, and they have shown significant efficacy in several types of cancer. For example, trastuzumab, a targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer, has been shown to significantly improve survival in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Another area of advancement is immunotherapy, which has been a game-changer in the treatment of advanced or metastatic cancer. Immunotherapy stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells and is less toxic than chemotherapy [2].
In addition to these approaches, other adjuvant therapies, such as hormone therapy, targeted radionuclide therapy, and photodynamic therapy, are also being developed and investigated in clinical trials. Despite the significant progress made in adjuvant therapy for cancer treatment, there are still limitations and challenges to overcome.
Resistance to treatment and adverse effects are major concerns, and not all patients respond equally well to adjuvant therapy. Additionally, the high cost of some of these therapies can be a barrier to access for some patients. Adjuvant therapy is an important component of cancer treatment, and recent advances in chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy have improved outcomes for many cancer patients. However, there is still a need for further research and development to overcome the limitations and challenges of adjuvant therapy [3]. One of the major barriers to successful adjuvant therapy is resistance to treatment. Tumor cells can develop resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy, rendering treatment ineffective. Overcoming resistance to treatment is a major focus in cancer research, and new strategies are being developed to target resistant cancer cells and improve patient outcomes. Another challenge is the adverse effects of therapy, which can impact quality of life and lead to treatment interruptions or discontinuation. Efforts to minimize these adverse effects, such as the use of less toxic chemotherapy regimens and improved supportive care, are ongoing. Access to therapy is another important issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries [4]. The high cost of some adjuvant therapies can make them inaccessible to many patients. There is a need for innovative strategies to improve access to essential adjuvant therapies and reduce the financial burden on patients. Looking to the future, there are several areas of research that hold promise for improving adjuvant therapy. The use of liquid biopsies, which allow for the noninvasive detection of biomarkers that can predict treatment response or detect minimal residual disease, is an exciting area of research. Additionally, advances in genomic profiling and personalized medicine are facilitating the development of tailored treatment approaches that take into account individual patient characteristics and tumor biology [5].
Adjuvant therapy is a critical component of cancer treatment, and recent advances in cancer therapy have greatly improved outcomes for many cancer patients. Further research is needed to overcome the challenges and limitations of adjuvant therapy, with a focus on improving treatment efficacy, minimizing adverse effects, and ensuring access to essential therapies. The future of adjuvant therapy is bright, with ongoing developments that are likely to lead to further improvements in cancer outcomes.
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