Maintence/consolidation chemotherapy is a cocktail of medications given to prevent cancer resurgence.
Maintenance/consolidation refers to an approach to dosing schedules for patients who are receiving chemotherapy to treat cancer. The two terms ("maintenance" and "consolidation") have historically been used interchangeably to refer to the same sequence; modern literature therefore uses the hybrid term to avoid confusion.
Induction phase
The induction phase is the first round of chemotherapy used as treatment after cancer has definitively been diagnosed. The types of agents and administration routes vary depending on the cancer being treated. This first phase must be completed prior to the maintenance/consolidation phase.
Consolidation
Consolidation chemotherapy comprises the next phase if induction chemotherapy succeeds in driving the cancer into remission. Typically, it consists of one additional large dose of the agent shown to be most successful during the induction phase. Consolidation "cleans up" any straggling cancer cells that may no longer be clinically detectable.
Maintenance
When remission of the cancer is established, a maintenance regimen of chemotherapy begins. This consists of small doses of the successful agent, usually combined with steroids or other helpful adjunct medications, given at regular intervals over several years to ensure the cancer does not come back.
Tags: maintenance consolidation, medications given, phase Consolidation, phase induction
