Trends in Chemotherapy Research

Cancer is a word that rightly strikes fear into the collective heart of humanity. It is a brutally indiscriminate killer and incurable (to date) disease. Able to infest any part of the body, from the brain to the bones to the lungs and liver, cancer seemingly mocks the inability to eliminate it. Treatment for cancer varies depending on the severity and type of neoplasm the patient has. The most well-known of these responses is chemotherapy, which involves the use of chemicals. In order to stem the spread of a patient''s cancer, chemotherapy has the patient undergo a series of doses aimed at killing the cancerous cells. Unfortunately, the chemicals can also destroy healthy cells, particularly those that divide quickly. This action leads to side effects such as hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and anaemia. Even though the treatments may be of an overall benefit in eliminating or slowing cancer, the period of treatment is often an arduous one for the patient. Modern research has led to a virtual new era in chemotherapy with target drugs. This book brings together the latest research results in the fast moving field.