What Is Induction Chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a treatment approach used to eliminate cancer cells from the body. Treatment comes in the form of drugs that are taken orally, or injected into a vein. Induction chemotherapy is a method used in cases of advanced cancer growths. As with other forms of cancer treatment, certain side effects may result.

Identification

• Induction chemotherapy --also known as primary, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy- is a form treatment used to reduce the size of an advanced cancer growth. This method is often used prior to surgery or radiation treatments in an attempt to lessen the extent of these follow-up procedures, according to Healthline, a health information resource. Surgery performed on a large growth may result in trauma to nearby organs and bodily systems. By using induction chemotherapy beforehand, a less intrusive surgery may be needed.

Function

• Cancer is a disease in which mutant cell types begin to grow at accelerated rates within the body. Chemotherapy treatments are designed to slow the growth of these cells, and/or eliminate them from the body. Individuals who have advanced tumors are at an additional risk of metastasis in which tumor cells spread to other of the body via the bloodstream, according to Healthline. Induction chemotherapy works to reduce the size of an advanced tumor, which lessens the risk of metastasis and makes it easier for surgery or radiation treatments to be effective.

Treatment

• Induction chemotherapy is typically used in conjunction with other treatment approaches, and may involve one of several types of drugs, according to the American Cancer Society. Chemotherapy drugs most often used include bleomycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, docetaxel, and methotrexate. Induction therapy can be used to treat different forms of cancer, some of which include soft tissue sarcoma, anal cancer, bladder cancer and laryngeal cancer, according to Healthline. In cases of Hodgkin's disease, Wilms' tumor, or small cell lung cancer, this procedure may also be used as a primary treatment approach.

Effects

• Induction chemotherapy administered before radiation treatments can help make a tumor growth more accessible to the effects of radiation, according to Healthline. Since the tumor is in an intact state prior to induction treatment, its blood vessels are open, which allows the drugs to flow through freely. In some cases, a tumor's blood flow may be improved by chemotherapy, which increases the effects of oncoming radiation treatments. Since induction therapy acts as an initial treatment, the results can give physicians an idea of how responsive a tumor will be to further drug treatments.

Considerations

• The effectiveness of induction chemotherapy may depend on how resistant a group of cancer cells are to drug treatments, according to Healthline. This resistance factor can influence whether a decrease in tumor size occurs, as well as how effective follow-up surgery, or radiation treatments will be, according to the American Cancer Society. As with any form of chemotherapy treatment, there is the risk of damage to bone marrow, digestive tract, or hair follicle cells. Cell damage in these areas can result in side effects, some which include fatigue, vomiting, hair loss and infection. (see References 1 and 2)