Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, is the treatment of disease by chemicals especially by killing micro-organisms or cancerous cells. In popular usage, it refers to antineoplastic drugs used to treat cancer or the combination of these drugs into a cytotoxic standardized treatment regimen.

What is Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy literally refers to the treatment of certain diseases using specific chemicals that are destructive to malignant cells or to the causative agent of a disease such as a bacteria or virus. Therefore, the treatment can be broadly divided into two categories - cancer chemotherapy and antimicrobial chemotherapy.

What is 'Chemo Brain'?

Chemotherapy Types

How Chemotherapy Affects Daily Living

Does Scalp Cooling Prevent Hair Loss During Chemotherapy?

History of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy Principles

Chemotherapy Treatment Schemes

Latest Chemotherapy News and Research

Chemotherapy treatment linked to lasting cognitive changes in rats

Researchers at The City College of New York have linked chemotherapy treatment to lasting cognitive changes in rats – potentially shading light, for the first time, on cognitive problems some cancer survivors experience long after treatment ends.

31 Jul 2025

New molecular insights reveal why some bladder cancers resist chemotherapy

About one quarter of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) may be treated and derive a benefit with the current standard chemotherapy.

31 Jul 2025

Artificial sweetener may undermine effectiveness of cancer treatment

Sucralose is a popular sugar substitute for people who are cutting calories or managing blood sugar levels, but new research by the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center suggests that the artificial sweetener may not be the best choice for patients undergoing cancer immunotherapy.

31 Jul 2025

T cell senescence shapes cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response

T cell senescence occurs in the TME, affecting cancer prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. The TME induces T cell senescence through multiple pathways, including persistent stimulation by tumor-associated antigens, metabolic pathway alterations, activation of chronic inflammatory responses, proliferation of immunosuppressive cells, and T cell damage caused by tumor radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

31 Jul 2025

Cancer immunotherapies linked to increased risk of liver cholestasis

A global study reveals that cutting-edge cancer immunotherapies, while lifesaving, carry a hidden risk: they may trigger cholestasis, a serious liver condition where bile flow stalls.

30 Jul 2025

FDA Breakthrough Device designation granted for AI-based mammogram analysis tool

A new technology that harnesses AI to analyze mammograms and improve the accuracy of predicting a woman's personalized five-year risk of developing breast cancer has received Breakthrough Device designation from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

30 Jul 2025

Synergistic effects of radiation and immunotherapy boost anti-tumor immunity

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are a group of cancers that affect cells in and around our mouth and nose.

29 Jul 2025

Senescent macrophages emerge as key drivers of tumor progression

Macrophages are versatile immune cells, tasked with cleaning up pathogens and maintaining tissue health.

29 Jul 2025

Restoring mitochondria enhances immune response against lung cancer

While chemotherapy remains a cornerstone of lung cancer treatment, it often weakens the immune system it relies on for long-term control.

28 Jul 2025

Advancing precision medicine in colorectal cancer with multi-omics approaches

Colorectal cancer is among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide, with liver metastases occurring in nearly one-third of patients and accounting for a major share of cancer-related deaths.

28 Jul 2025

Blocking nutrient scavenging weakens pancreatic tumor defenses

Cancer cells and tumors do not exist in a vacuum. Far from the isolation and self-sufficiency of the fictional Wakanda, tumors develop in and alter the nearby milieu of immune cells, connective tissue, blood vessels and a sea of proteins and carbohydrates that provide structure and other supportive functions.

24 Jul 2025

Salk researcher awarded funding to boost immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer

Salk Institute Professor Diana Hargreaves was named a 2025 All-Star Translational Award Program grantee by the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

24 Jul 2025

Low-dose olanzapine reduces chemo-induced nausea with fewer side effects

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting are among the most distressing side effects of anti-cancer treatment, particularly for those receiving highly emetogenic regimens such as anthracycline plus cyclophosphamide combinations.

24 Jul 2025

Innovative immunotherapy trial opens for newly-diagnosed glioblastoma patients

A UCL-sponsored clinical trial for patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, has opened at UCLH's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Clinical Research Facility, in memory of Baroness Margaret McDonagh.

24 Jul 2025

Powerlifting through breast cancer treatment shows new hope

LaShae Rolle, 27, is a competitive powerlifer who could squat 441 pounds, bench 292 pounds and deadlift 497 pounds. She is also a breast cancer survivor and researcher and the lead author on a first-of-its kind study documenting elite-level strength training during active breast cancer treatment.

23 Jul 2025