salvage therapy
Treatment approach for patients with refractory or relapsed disease after failure of standard therapies.
Full Definition
Salvage therapy encompasses treatment strategies employed when standard first-line or second-line therapies have failed to achieve or maintain remission in hematologic malignancies. These regimens often utilize alternative drug combinations, higher doses, or novel agents not used in initial treatment. Salvage therapy represents a critical decision point in cancer care, as it may serve as a bridge to potentially curative interventions such as stem cell transplantation, or as the final therapeutic option for patients with limited treatment alternatives. Response rates are typically lower than with frontline therapy, and treatment selection considers prior therapy exposure, patient performance status, and available clinical trial options.
Usage
Usage note: Avoid confusion with 'salvage' in surgical contexts; always specify therapeutic context
In Context
- "Salvage therapy with ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide was initiated after primary refractory disease." — Oncology treatment plan
- "The clinical trial evaluated a novel salvage therapy approach for multiply relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma." — Clinical research protocol