What is neoadjuvant treatment?

Neoadjuvant treatment refers to medical therapy administered before the primary treatment, which is typically surgery. The primary purpose of neoadjuvant therapy is to reduce the size or extent of the cancer, making it easier to remove with surgery or potentially allowing for less extensive surgery. This approach can help minimize the risk of cancer recurrence and improve overall survival rates.

In many cases, neoadjuvant treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy, and is applied particularly in cases where tumors are large or when the cancer has metastasized locally. Administering treatment prior to surgery allows for an assessment of how the cancer responds to the therapy, which can inform further treatment decisions.

The other choices do not align with the definition of neoadjuvant treatment. Treatment after the primary intervention is termed adjuvant therapy, symptom-relieving treatment without addressing the cancer is palliative care, and preventive treatment refers to strategies aimed at preventing cancer formation, which is not applicable in the context of neoadjuvant approaches.