Question

A 54-year-old woman presents with cervical cancer stage 2A. It is decided to give neoadjuvant chemotherapy. What does neoadjuvant chemotherapy mean?

• A. Chemotherapy is given along with radiation.
• B. Chemotherapy is given during surgery.
• C. Chemotherapy is given before radical surgery to reduce the bulk of the tumor
• D. Chemotherapy is given after radical surgery for micrometastases

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy refers to the administration of chemotherapeutic drugs before the primary treatment, which in the case of cervical cancer stage 2A, is usually surgery. The primary goal is to reduce the size of the tumor, making it easier to remove surgically and potentially improving surgical outcomes. In the context of the question, the correct interpretation is as follows:

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy administered prior to radical surgery to decrease the tumor's size.

This strategy is employed to:

• Shrink the tumor, facilitating complete surgical excision.
• Improve the efficacy of subsequent treatments, such as radiation or further chemotherapy.
• Assess the responsiveness of the tumor to chemotherapy, providing valuable prognostic information.

Therefore, neoadjuvant chemotherapy is not administered during surgery, along with radiation, or after surgery in the context of micrometastases. These scenarios do not align with the definition of neoadjuvant therapy.