| 释义 |
chemotherapy
che·mo·ther·a·py C0273300 (kē′mō-thĕr′ə-pē, kĕm′ō-)n.1. The treatment of cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are selectively destructive to malignant cells and tissues.2. The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism.
che′mo·ther′a·peu′tic (-pyo͞o′tĭk) adj.che′mo·ther′a·peu′ti·cal·ly adv.che′mo·ther′a·pist n.chemotherapy (ˌkiːməʊˈθɛrəpɪ; kiːmə-) n (Medicine) treatment of disease, esp cancer, by means of chemical agents. Compare radiotherapy ˌchemoˈtherapist nche•mo•ther•a•py (ˌki moʊˈθɛr ə pi, ˌkɛm oʊ-)
n. the treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease-producing microorganisms or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue. [1905–10] che`mo•ther`a•peu′tic (-ˈpyu tɪk) adj. che`mo•ther′a•pist, n. che·mo·ther·a·py (kē′mō-thĕr′ə-pē) The treatment of disease, especially cancer, with chemicals that have a specific poisonous effect on the cancerous or disease-causing cells.chemotherapyMed. the treatment of disease by the use of chemicals that have a toxic effect on the microorganisms causing the disease or that selectively destroy tumor tissues. — chemotherapist, n. — chemotherapeutic, adj.See also: Remedies
a procedure that uses radioisotopes of various elements, as iodine, phosphorus, and gold, to treat cancers of the thyroid gland, lungs, and other organs.See also: CancerchemotherapyTreatment of disease, especially cancer, and infection using drugs or chemical agents.Thesaurus| Noun | 1. | chemotherapy - the use of chemical agents to treat or control disease (or mental illness)therapy - (medicine) the act of caring for someone (as by medication or remedial training etc.); "the quarterback is undergoing treatment for a knee injury"; "he tried every treatment the doctors suggested"; "heat therapy gave the best relief"chrysotherapy - the use of chemicals containing gold for treating diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis) |
Translationschemioterapiaquimioterapiachemotherapy
chemotherapy (kē'mōthĕr`əpē), treatment of disease with chemicals or drugsdrugs,
substances used in medicine either externally or internally for curing, alleviating, or preventing a disease or deficiency. At the turn of the century only a few medically effective substances were widely used scientifically, among them ether, morphine, digitalis,
..... Click the link for more information. . One chemotherapeutic approach is the development of selectively toxic substances, i.e., substances that can destroy or inhibit infecting organisms or, as in cancer, malignant tissue, but do not damage normal host tissue. In treating infection, selectively toxic agents may block a biochemical reaction necessary to the viability of the pathogen but not to that of the host; for example, penicillinpenicillin,
any of a group of chemically similar substances obtained from molds of the genus Penicillium that were the first antibiotic agents to be used successfully in the treatment of bacterial infections in humans.
..... Click the link for more information. blocks synthesis of bacterial cell walls, a component animal cells lack. Other chemotherapeutic substances differentially affect biochemical reactions in different tissues; thus antimetabolites such as methotrexate and CytoxanCytoxan
, trade name for the drug cyclophosphamide, used to inhibit growth of tumors and rapidly proliferating cells. It is used in the treatment of leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and lymphosarcoma and other solid tumors.
..... Click the link for more information. are more toxic to rapidly proliferating cells such as those associated with cancer than to normal cells. Other drugs act in various ways to produce effects that initiate or enhance some normal body function; for instance, neostigmine blocks the action of an enzyme limiting transmission of nerve impulses and thereby acts as a nervous system stimulant. The usefulness of chemotherapeutic agents also depends on their pharmacological action, e.g., their rate of absorption, rapidity of action and rate of excretion, degree of storage in the body, effects of products of their metabolic breakdown, and potential for causing hypersensitivityhypersensitivity,
heightened response in a body tissue to an antigen or foreign substance. The body normally responds to an antigen by producing specific antibodies against it. The antibodies impart immunity for any later exposure to that antigen.
..... Click the link for more information. reactions. Some drugs are given prophylactically, to prevent infection, e.g., penicillin is given to rheumatic fever patients to prevent reinfection by the causative organism, the streptococcal bacterium.Chemotherapy the use of drugs to act on the causative agents of infectious and parasitic diseases and on tumor cells. The treatment of disease by chemical agents was first practiced early in the 20th century, after P. Ehrlich demonstrated the directed synthesis of agents capable of acting on microorganisms. Ehrlich used salvarsan (the first potent agent in chemotherapy) in 1909 and established the principal mechanisms of the specific action of chemical agents. REFERENCESEhrlich, P. Materialy k ucheniiu o khimioterapii. St. Petersburg, 1911. (Translated from German.)
Khimioterapiia infektsionnykh boleznei (collection of articles). Moscow, 1958.
Strategiia khimioterapii. Moscow, 1960. (Translated from English.)
Larionov, L. F. Khimioterapiia zlokachestvennykh opukholei. Moscow, 1962.
Votchal, B. E. Ocherki klinicheskoi farmakologii, 2nd ed. Moscow, 1965.
Kassirskii, I. A., and Iu. L. Milevskaia. Ocherki sovremennoi klinicheskoi terapii, 2nd ed. Tashkent, 1970.chemotherapy[‚kē·mō′ther·ə·pē] (medicine) Administering chemical substances for treatment of disease, especially cancer and diseases caused by parasites. chemotherapy treatment of disease, esp cancer, by means of chemical agents chemotherapy
Chemotherapy DefinitionChemotherapy is treatment of cancer with anticancer drugs.PurposeThe main purpose of chemotherapy is to kill cancer cells. It usually is used to treat patients with cancer that has spread from the place in the body where it started (metastasized). Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells anywhere in the body. It even kills cells that have broken off from the main tumor and traveled through the blood or lymph systems to other parts of the body.Chemotherapy can cure some types of cancer. In some cases, it is used to slow the growth of cancer cells or to keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. When a cancer has been removed by surgery, chemotherapy may be used to keep the cancer from coming back (adjuvant therapy). Chemotherapy also can ease the symptoms of cancer, helping some patients have a better quality of life.PrecautionsThere are many different types of chemotherapy drugs. Oncologists, doctors who specialize in treating cancer, determine which drugs are best suited for each patient. This decision is based on the type of cancer, the patient's age and health, and other drugs the patient is taking. Some patients should not be treated with certain chemotherapy drugs. Age and other conditions may affect the drugs with which a person may be treated. Heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes are conditions that may limit the choice of treatment drugs. In 2003, research revealed that obesity appears to reduce the effectives of high-dose chemotherapy. Researchers said further study was needed to determine the best dosage for obese patients receiving therapy.DescriptionMore than 50 chemotherapy drugs are currently available to treat cancer and many more are being tested for their ability to destroy cancer cells. Most chemotherapy drugs interfere with the ability of cells to grow or multiply. Although these drugs affect all cells in the body, many useful treatments are most effective against rapidly growing cells. Cancer cells grow more quickly than most other body cells. Other cells that grow fast are cells of the bone marrow that produce blood cells, cells in the stomach and intestines, and cells of the hair follicles. Therefore, the most common side effects of chemotherapy are linked to the treatment's effects on other fast growing cells.Types of chemotherapy drugsChemotherapy drugs are classified based on how they work. The main types of chemotherapy drugs are described below:- Alkylating drugs kill cancer cells by directly attacking DNA, the genetic material of the genes. Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating drug.
- Antimetabolites interfere with the production of DNA and keep cells from growing and multiplying. An example of an antimetabolite is 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
- Antitumor antibiotics are made from natural substances such as fungi in the soil. They interfere with important cell functions, including production of DNA and cell proteins. Doxorubicin and bleomycin belong to this group of chemotherapy drugs.
- Plant alkaloids prevent cells from dividing normally. Vinblastine and vincristine are plant alkaloids obtained from the periwinkle plant.
- Steroid hormones slow the growth of some cancers that depend on hormones. For example, tamoxifen is used to treat breast cancers that depend on the hormone estrogen for growth.
Combination chemotherapyChemotherapy usually is given in addition to other cancer treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy. When given with other treatments, it is called adjuvant chemotherapy. An oncologist decides which chemotherapy drug or combination of drugs will work best for each patient. The use of two or more drugs together often works better than a single drug for treating cancer. This is called combination chemotherapy. Scientific studies of different drug combinations help doctors learn which combinations work best for each type of cancer. For example, new research in 2003 found that a combination of chemotherapy and gene therapy stopped breast cancer and its metastasis (spread to other organs or parts of the body).How chemotherapy is givenChemotherapy is administered in different ways, depending on the drugs to be given and the type of cancer. Doctors decide the dose of chemotherapy drugs considering many factors, among them being the patient's height and weight.Chemotherapy may be given by one or more of the following methods:- orally
- by injection
- through a catheter or port
- topically
Oral chemotherapy is given by mouth in the form a pill, capsule, or liquid. This is the easiest method and can usually be done at home.Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy is injected into a vein. A small needle is inserted into a vein on the hand or lower arm. The needle usually is attached to a small tube called a catheter, which delivers the drug to the needle from an IV bag or bottle.Intramuscular (IM) chemotherapy is injected into a muscle. Chemotherapy given by intramuscular injection is absorbed into the blood more slowly than IV chemotherapy. Because of this, the effects of IM chemotherapy may last longer than chemotherapy given intravenously. Chemotherapy also may be injected subcutaneously (SQ or SC), which means under the skin. Injection of chemotherapy directly into the cancer is called intralesional (IL) injection.Chemotherapy also may be given by a catheter or port permanently inserted into a central vein or body cavity. A port is a small reservoir or container that is placed in a vein or under the skin in the area where the drug will be given. These methods eliminate the need for repeated injections and may allow patients to spend less time in the hospital while receiving chemotherapy. A common location for a permanent catheter is the external jugular vein in the neck. Intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy is administered into the abdominal cavity through a catheter or port. Chemotherapy given by catheter or port into the spinal fluid is called intrathecal (IT) administration. Catheters and ports also may be placed in the chest cavity, bladder, or pelvis, depending on the location of the cancer to be treated.Topical chemotherapy is given as a cream or ointment applied directly to the cancer. This method is more common in treatment of certain types of skin cancer.Treatment location and schedulePatients may take chemotherapy at home, in the doctor's office, or as an inpatient or outpatient at the hospital. Most patients stay in the hospital when first beginning chemotherapy, so their doctor can check for any side effects and change the dose if needed.How often and how long chemotherapy is given depends on the type of cancer, how patients respond to the drugs, patients' health and ability to tolerate the drugs, and the types of drugs given. Chemotherapy administration may take only a few minutes or may last as long as several hours. Chemotherapy may be given daily, weekly, or monthly. A rest period may follow a course of treatment before the next course begins. In combination chemotherapy, more than one drug may be given at a time, or they may be given alternately, one following the other.PreparationA number of medical tests are done before chemotherapy is started. The oncologist will determine how much the cancer has spread from the results of x rays and other imaging tests and from samples of the tumor taken during surgery or biopsy.Blood tests give the doctor important information about the function of the blood cells and levels of chemicals in the blood. A complete blood count (CBC) is commonly done before and regularly during treatment. The CBC shows the numbers of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets in the blood. Because chemotherapy affects the bone marrow, where blood cells are made, levels of these cells often drop during chemotherapy. The white blood cells and platelets are most likely to be affected by chemotherapy. A drop in the white blood cell count means the immune system cannot function properly. Low levels of platelets can cause a patient to bleed easily from a cut or other wound. A low red blood cell count can lead to anemia (deficiency of red blood cells) and fatigue.When a chemotherapy treatment takes a long time, the patient may prepare for it by wearing comfortable clothes. Bringing a book to read or a tape to listen to may help pass the time and ease the stress of receiving chemotherapy. Some patients bring a friend or family member to provide company and support during treatment.Sometimes, patients taking chemotherapy drugs known to cause nausea are given medications called anti-emetics before chemotherapy is administered. Anti-emetic drugs help to lessen feelings of nausea. Two anti-nausea medications that may be used are Kytril and Zofran.Other ways to prepare for chemotherapy and help lessen nausea are:- regularly eating nutritious foods and drinking lots of fluids
- eating and drinking normally until about two hours before chemotherapy
- eating high carbohydrate, low-fat foods and avoiding spicy foods
New research also revealed in 2003 that taking melatonin, a natural hormone substance, may help improve chemotherapy's effectiveness and reduce the toxic effects of the drugs.AftercareTips for helping to control side effects after chemotherapy include:- Following any instructions given by the doctor or nurse
- Taking all prescribed medications
- Eating small amounts of bland foods
- Drinking lots of fluids
- Getting plenty of rest.
Some patients find it helps to breathe fresh air or get mild exercise, such as taking a walk.RisksChemotherapy drugs are toxic to normal cells as well as cancer cells. A dose that will destroy cancer cells will probably cause damage to some normal cells. Doctors adjust doses to do the least amount of harm possible to normal cells. Some patients feel few or no side effects, and others may have more serious side effects. In some cases, a dose adjustment is all that is needed to reduce or stop a side effect.Some chemotherapy drugs have more side effects than others. Some of the most common side effects are:- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- hair loss
- anemia and fatigue
- infection
- easy bleeding or bruising
- sores in the mouth and throat
- neuropathy and other damage to the nervous system
- kidney damage
Nausea and vomiting are common, but can usually be controlled by taking antinausea drugs, drinking enough fluids, and avoiding spicy foods. Loss of appetite may be due to nausea or the stress of undergoing cancer treatment.Some chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, but it is almost always temporary.Low blood cell counts caused by the effect of chemotherapy on the bone marrow can lead to anemia, infections, and easy bleeding and bruising. Patients with anemia have too few red blood cells to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues. Anemic patients feel tired and weak. If red blood cell levels fall too low, a blood transfusion may be given.Patients receiving chemotherapy are more likely to get infections. This happens because their infection-fighting white blood cells are reduced. It is important to take measures to avoid getting infections. When the white blood cell count drops too low, the doctor may prescribe medications called colony stimulating factors that help white blood cells grow. Neupogen and Leukine are two colony stimulants used as treatments to help fight infection.Platelets are blood cells that make the blood clot. When patients do not have enough platelets, they may bleed or bruise easily, even from small injuries. Patients with low blood platelets should take precautions to avoid injuries. Medicines such as aspirin and other pain relievers can affect platelets and slow down the clotting process.Chemotherapy can cause irritation and dryness in the mouth and throat. Painful sores may form that can bleed and become infected. Precautions to avoid this side effect include getting dental care before chemotherapy begins, brushing the teeth and gums regularly with a soft brush, and avoiding mouth washes that contain salt or alcohol.Normal resultsThe main goal of chemotherapy is to cure cancer. Many cancers are cured by chemotherapy. It may be used in combination with surgery to keep a cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. Some widespread, fast-growing cancers are more difficult to treat. In these cases, chemotherapy may slow the growth of the cancer cells.Doctors can tell if the chemotherapy is working by the results of medical tests. Physical examination, blood tests, and x rays are all used to check the effects of treatment on the cancer.The possible outcomes of chemotherapy are:- Complete remission or response. The cancer completely disappears. The course of chemotherapy is completed and the patient is tested regularly for a recurrence.
- Partial remission or response. The cancer shrinks in size but does not disappear. The same chemotherapy may be continued or a different combination of drugs may be tried.
- Stabilization. The cancer does not grow or shrink. Other therapy options may be explored. A tumor may stay stabilized for many years.
- Progression. The cancer continues to grow. Other therapy options may be explored.
- A secondary malignancy may develop from the one being treated, and that second cancer may need additional chemotherapy or other treatment.
ResourcesPeriodicals"Gene Therapy and Chemotherapy Combine to Stop Breast Cancer and its Metastasis." Gene Therapy Weekly October 30, 2003: 2."Melatonin Improves the Efficacy of Chemotherapy and Quality of Life." Biotech Week September 10, 2003: 394."Obesity May Reduce Efficacy of High-dose Chemotherapy." Health & Medicine Week August 11, 2003: 385.OrganizationsAmerican Cancer Society. 1599 Clifton Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-4251. (800) 227-2345. http://www.cancer.org.National Cancer Institute. Building 31, Room 10A31, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2580, Bethesda, MD 20892-2580. (800) 422-6237. http://www.nci.nih.gov.Key termsAdjuvant therapy — Treatment given after surgery or radiation therapy to prevent the cancer from coming back.Alkaloid — A type of chemical commonly found in plants and often having medicinal properties.Alykylating drug — A drug that kills cells by directly damaging DNA.Antiemetic — A medicine that helps control nausea; also called an anti-nausea drug.Antimetabolite — A drug that interferes with a cell's growth or ability to multiply.Platelets — Blood cells that function in blood clotting.chemotherapy [ke″mo-ther´ah-pe] the treatment of illness by chemical means; that is, by medication. adj., adj chemotherapeu´tic. The term was first applied to the treatment of infectious diseases, but it now is used to include treatment of mental illness and cancer with drugs.che·mo·ther·a·py (kē'mō-thār'ă-pē), Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to neoplastic disease.
See also: pharmacotherapy. chemotherapy (kē′mō-thĕr′ə-pē, kĕm′ō-)n.1. The treatment of cancer using specific chemical agents or drugs that are selectively destructive to malignant cells and tissues.2. The treatment of disease using chemical agents or drugs that are selectively toxic to the causative agent of the disease, such as a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism.
che′mo·ther′a·peu′tic (-pyo͞o′tĭk) adj.che′mo·ther′a·peu′ti·cal·ly adv.che′mo·ther′a·pist n.chemotherapy Medical history
A near-extinct synonym for antibiotic or anti-tuberculosis therapy.
Oncology
The use of various agents, most of which are toxic to dividing cells, to induce tumour cell lysis; successful chemotherapy (CT) is a function of tumour responsiveness, which most predictably occurs in lymphoproliferative malignancy (e.g., leukaemia and lymphoma) and small cell (undifferentiated) carcinoma. Because CT is most effective against rapidly proliferating cells, collateral damage to dividing cells in skin and hair, bone marrow and the GI tract is common, resulting in reversible hair loss, myelosuppression, and nausea and vomiting. A late effect of CT, especially in paediatric leukaemia, is induction of a 2nd malignancy, which may be refractory to therapy.chemotherapy Chemotherapeutics Oncology The use of various agents, most of which are toxic to dividing cells, to induce tumor cell lysis; successful CT is a function of tumor responsiveness, which most predictably occurs in lymphoproliferative malignancy–eg, leukemia and lymphoma, and small cell–undifferentiated carcinoma; because CT is most effective against rapidly proliferating cells, collateral damage to dividing cells in skin and hair, BM, GI tract, are common, resulting in reversible hair loss, myelosuppression, N&V; a late effect of CT, especially in pediatric leukemia, is induction of a 2nd malignancy, which may be refractory to therapy. See Adjuvant chemotherapy, Antifolate chemotherapy, Combination chemotherapy, Combined modality therapy, Consolidation chemotherapy, Damocles' syndrome, Electrochemotherapy, High-dose chemotherapy, Hyperfractionation trans-C chemotherapy, Induction chemotherapy, Intensification chemotherapy, Intraperitoneal chemotherapy, Intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy, Intrathecal chemotherapy, Maintenance chemotherapy, Microdose chemotherapy, Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, Photochemotherapy, Preemptive chemotherapy, Regional chemotherapy, Salvagechemotherapy. che·mo·ther·a·py (kē'mō-thār'ă-pē) Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to neoplastic disease.
See also: pharmacotherapychemotherapy The internal use of chemical agents to treat disease, especially infections, infestations and tumours. At one time, the antibiotics were excluded from this group, as being of natural origin, but as many of these have been synthesized this distinction has become too fine. Indeed, since the whole spectrum of pharmacology involves the exhibition of chemical molecules, the term might be thought to have lost all specificity. Commonly-recognized chemotherapeutic agents, however, include drugs used against cancers and leukaemias (‘chemo’) and those given to kill viruses, microbes, fungi, protozoa, worms and other parasites.chemotherapy the use of chemical substances (chemotherapeutic agents) to combat disease caused by microorganisms, and to treat cancers.che·mo·ther·a·py (kē'mō-thār'ă-pē) Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to neoplastic disease.
See also: pharmacotherapyPatient discussion about chemotherapyQ. what are the side affects of chemotherapy? A. And one more thing - this list of side effects may sound frightening, but eventually these drugs are given because they were found to eventually giving the patients better life than when they were left untreated, so in most of the cases, it's worth it. Q. How do doctors know what chemo meds to prescribe? Do they take a piece of the cancer tumor and lab it to see what chemo drugs kill that specific cancer tumor cells. Or do they randomly figure these meds should respond to these cells? I understand that the doctors put a patient through killing all cells which may be better.A. It all comes down to a "hit or miss" if one chemo type doesn't work then they try another, or combinations. From experience and testing they basically know which type of chemo works on an overall average for a certain cancer type.
Although many can get one type of cancer, each reacts differently in each individual depending on their immune system, age, and lifestyle. so each chemo also reacts different in people.
Q. Getting prepared for chemo Hi, I have breast cancer, and I’m planned to start chemotherapy in a short time. Do you have any advice how should I prepare for it? What to buy? The anti-emesis drugs are already waiting- any other thing I should get?A. A surgical face mask – if you find yourself in a close place and someone starts to cough or sneeze, you can protect yourself. More discussions about chemotherapySee CHT
See CTHchemotherapy
Related to chemotherapy: radiation therapyWords related to chemotherapynoun the use of chemical agents to treat or control disease (or mental illness)Related Words |