Palliative chemotherapy: historical perspective, applications, and controversies.
Despite advances in cancer detection and treatment, cancer continues to be a major public health burden in the United States, and patients with advanced or refractory cancers carry much of this burden. The primary goal of cancer treatment is cure. However, most patients with advanced, metastatic, or recurrent disease do not benefit from this intent. Recent research studies have documented the role of chemotherapy in providing symptom control, preventing complications, prolonging life, and improving quality of life (QOL) in patients with incurable cancers. Although chemotherapy under these conditions is palliative, patients receiving chemotherapy or participating in research trials are excluded from receiving much needed palliative services, such as Hospice, based on current definitions, limitations, and models of palliative care. Application of palliative services on a continuum from the time of diagnosis through the end of life (EOL) has been recognized as beneficial in the treatment of patients with terminal diseases and has been addressed through trials assessing mixed management models, providing palliative and therapeutic options.
Browner
Ilene
I
Division of Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21231-2410, USA.
Carducci
Michael A
MA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017051:Hospice Care; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents