Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certification ONS Practice Testq

What is one of the main goals of combination chemotherapy?

1. To reduce side effects

2. To enhance therapeutic efficacy against tumors

3. To prolong the duration of treatment

4. To target only specific cell types

The correct answer is: To enhance therapeutic efficacy against tumors

One of the main goals of combination chemotherapy is to enhance therapeutic efficacy against tumors. This approach involves using multiple chemotherapeutic agents that work through different mechanisms of action and target various pathways involved in cancer cell proliferation and survival. By combining these agents, the chances of effectively killing cancer cells are significantly increased, as different drugs can attack the tumor simultaneously in various ways. This can lead to improved outcomes, such as a better response rate, larger tumor reduction, and increased overall survival for patients. Enhancing therapeutic efficacy is particularly important because tumors can become resistant to single-agent therapies. The simultaneous targeting of multiple aspects of tumor biology through combination chemotherapy can circumvent these resistance mechanisms, leading to more successful treatment strategies. The effectiveness of this approach is often seen in clinical practice, where combination regimens, such as those used for specific types of cancers like breast and lung cancer, yield better results compared to single-agent treatments.