Neoadjuvant therapy is a treatment given before the primary (main) treatment, such as surgery, to shrink tumors or improve outcomes. It often involves chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, or hormone therapy and is commonly used in cancers like breast, lung, or rectal cancer. Benefits include:
- Reducing tumor size for easier surgical removal.
- Killing micrometastases (early cancer spread).
- Allowing organ preservation (e.g., avoiding mastectomy).
- Assessing tumor response to guide further treatment.
It contrasts with adjuvant therapy, which is given after surgery to eliminate remaining cancer cells.