What characterizes adjuvant chemotherapy?

Adjuvant chemotherapy is characterized by its administration after the primary treatment modality, typically surgery, to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. This approach is utilized when there is a high risk of cancer returning, ensuring that any microscopic disease that may not have been removed during surgery or was not detectable is targeted effectively.

This context highlights the crucial role of adjuvant therapy in comprehensive cancer treatment, reinforcing the importance of managing potential residual disease following the primary intervention.

The other options present different treatment protocols: chemotherapy given before surgery is referred to as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while administration during surgery usually involves intraoperative chemotherapy, and combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy denotes concurrent treatment strategies rather than adjuvant approaches.