Chapter 23: Administration of systemic anticancer therapies
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Systemic anticancer treatment
Definition
Advances in knowledge relating to the functioning of the cancer cell have led to a greater understanding of the signalling pathways and molecular processes that allow a cancer cell to proliferate, resist attrition and invade other organs (Eggert [67]). Systemic anticancer therapy (SACT) encompasses both biological therapy (therapies that use the body's immune system to fight cancer or to lessen the side‐effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments) and cytotoxic chemotherapy (a group of medicines containing chemicals directly toxic to cells, preventing their replication or growth and so active against cancer) (Scottish Government [226]).