Metronomic therapy

Chemotherapy can have an overwhelming effect on the body and overall health of a cancer patient, for this reason some patients, including some people with advanced or metastatic cancer, or vulnerable groups such as elderly or weaker patients, respond better to lower doses of chemotherapy over a longer period of time compared to traditional chemotherapy practices.

Traditional chemotherapy often uses high doses of chemotherapy, a powerful medication used to destroy cancer cells and prevent them from growing, at widely spaced intervals, whereas metronomic therapy uses much lower doses administered more regularly.

At Verita Life, our metronomic therapy has both a direct and indirect effect on cancer cells and the surrounding environment. The therapy primarily focuses on the blood vessels that supply the tumours, also known as anti-angiogenesis.

Conventional chemotherapy often aims to deliver a relatively high dose of medicine to damage or destroy cancer cells, followed by a period of rest that allows healthy tissues to recover.

Metronomic chemotherapy uses a different strategy: smaller doses are given more regularly, often over a longer period of time.

One important area of research is the effect of this regular exposure on the blood vessels that supply a tumour. Tumours need to develop and maintain their own blood supply in order to grow. Metronomic chemotherapy may interfere with this process, known as angiogenesis.

Research has also investigated other possible effects, including changes to the tumour microenvironment and interactions with the immune system.

The aim is therefore not simply to give "less chemotherapy", but to use a different dose and treatment schedule to produce a different biological effect.

Metronomic therapy is often used as one component of a wider cancer treatment program, rather than a standalone treatment.

Factors that may be considered include:

• The type and stage of cancer
• Previous cancer treatments and response to them
• The patient's overall health and fitness
• Previous or ongoing treatment-related side effects
• The specific chemotherapy drug being considered
• Whether the cancer requires a rapid reduction in tumour burden
• The potential benefits and risks of alternative treatment approaches

Metronomic therapy may be particularly relevant when the objective is longer-term disease control rather than achieving a rapid tumour response.

Verita Life’s medical team reviews your history and current treatment before discussing a protocol. The plan should make clear which clinician is responsible for prescribing, monitoring, and coordinating treatment with your oncologist.