Achievements and future of chemotherapy.
Although surgery and radiotherapy result in a cure in 40% of all cancer patients, the remaining 60% of the patients die as a result of metastatic disease. For those patients cancer has to be considered as a systemic disease and cure from cancer will likely come from some type of systemic treatment. This article gives a brief overview of the achievements in the development of chemotherapy over the last 50 years and the new potential targets for further drug development.
Verweij
J
J
Department of Medical Oncology, Rotterdam Cancer Institute (Daniel den Hoed Kliniek) and University Hospital, Groene Hilledijk 301, 3075 EA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. verweij@onch.azr.nl
de Jonge
M J
MJ
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents