Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with chemical drugs with the aim to destroy cancer cells. Whilst such treatment potentially also effects normal cells these have the ability to repair themselves whilst damage to cancer cells are usually of a more permanent nature.

Combination chemotherapy forms the basis of most chemotherapy treatment.  The goal is for different drugs to be used that complement each other in their destructive effects on cancer cells, whilst reducing side effects and toxic effects on normal cells. This can be achieved because of their different mechanisms of action and side effect profiles.

Goals of chemotherapy:

• Destroy cancer cells
• Shrink a tumor before other treatments
• Destroy cancer cells after other treatments

Chemotherapy is given as:

• Definitive Therapy - when the best chance of cure is with chemotherapy.
• Neo–adjuvant Therapy - prior to surgery or radiation to reduce tumour burden prior to definitive therapy with either modality.
• Combination Therapy with radiotherapy - either sequentially or concurrently, to enhance the effects of radiation (chemo radiation).
• Secondary Therapy - to try and cure metastatic disease.
• Palliative Therapy - to improve specific symptoms and enhance quality of life.

Types of chemotherapy

There are several different types of drug treatment that can be used to treat cancer.

• The first to be developed is known as Cytotoxic chemotherapy. Cytotoxic drugs are cell poisons. These drugs interfere with cancer cells` ability to grow (multiply) or to survive.
• Another type of drug treatment is hormone treatment . These drugs work differently to cytotoxics and cause fewer side-effects.
• Other types like interferons and monoclonal antibodies are often given with Cytotoxic drugs to increase their effectiveness. Monoclonal antibodies are made  specifically to attach to the surface of cancer cells. Once these antibodies attach to the cancer cells, they may interfere with the cell`s function and destroy the cell.

 Methods of drug administration

Drugs are given in different ways. The four most common methods are:

• Intravenous (IV),
• by mouth,
• intramuscular, and
• intrathecal.

The chosen method of administration is based on diagnosis and the drug`s characteristics.

• Some medications are taken by mouth in the form of a pill, capsule or liquid.
• The term intramuscular means that the drug is injected into the muscle, usually in the arm, thigh or buttock. Some drugs may be injected into the tissue under the skin, rather than into the muscle. This is referred to as subcutaneous injection.
• Giving medicine intravenously or directly into a vein is a very common method. Medication flows from a plastic bag, through tubing, into the bloodstream. Sometime a syringe is used to push the drugs through the tubing.
• Certain types of leukemia and lymphoma have a tendency to spread to the nervous system. To prevent or to treat this, a physician may perform a spinal tap and inject chemotherapy into the spinal fluid to destroy cancer cells. This is known as intrathecal delivery.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of drugs involve the cells that comprise the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, the skin and scalp (hair follicles), and the marrow. Each of these parts of the body has a common characteristic: as part of their normal functions, they all have rapid cell turnover (growth of new cells to replace old cells).
 
Clinical Trials / Research

GVI Oncology is extensively involved in clinical research. The research is conducted in collaboration with international pharmaceutical companies and recognised cancer research groups from both Europe and the United States of America.  

Goals of Clinical Research

All advances in Chemotherapy that have been made in the past decade are as a direct result of clinical research.  We are proud to offer our patients the opportunity to participate in these advances and to let them have access to new and exciting drugs undergoing development.

Conduct of Clinical Research

• All our research is conducted in accordance with ICH (International Committee for Harmonisation) and GCP (Good Clinical Practice) guidelines.
• These are international guidelines, which rigorously govern the conduct of clinical research and ensure the delivery of the highest quality of patient care.
• Compliance with these global standards provides the public with the assurance that the rights, safety and well being of our patients are protected and are consistent with the principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki.

    
This added facet of our practice helps to ensure that the standard of care delivered to our patients is comparable to that of the finest cancer institutions in the world.