In cancer treatment, what does the term 'neoadjuvant' refer to?

The term 'neoadjuvant' specifically refers to treatment that is given before the main treatment, typically prior to surgery. In oncology, neoadjuvant therapy is often utilized to shrink a tumor or decrease the extent of cancer before the primary treatment, which is usually surgical resection. This approach can enhance the chances of a successful surgical outcome, possibly allowing for less extensive surgery or enabling surgical intervention that might not have been possible otherwise due to the size or extent of the tumor.

Neoadjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapy, and it is particularly common in the treatment of breast cancer, among others. The timing of this treatment is crucial as it aims to improve the overall response of the cancer to subsequent treatments, thereby potentially leading to better long-term outcomes for the patient.