multimodal therapy
Treatment approach combining multiple therapeutic modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for optimal tumor control.
Full Definition
Multimodal therapy represents a comprehensive treatment strategy that integrates multiple therapeutic approaches including surgery, systemic chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and sometimes immunotherapy or targeted agents to achieve optimal oncologic outcomes. This approach recognizes that many bone sarcomas require more than single-modality treatment for cure, particularly high-grade malignancies that have significant potential for micrometastatic disease. The sequencing and timing of different modalities is carefully planned to maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Multimodal therapy has significantly improved survival rates for many bone sarcomas and represents the current standard of care for most malignant bone tumors.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier.
In Context
- "The patient was enrolled in a multimodal therapy protocol including neoadjuvant chemotherapy and limb salvage surgery." — Treatment plan
- "Multimodal therapy has become the standard approach for managing high-grade bone sarcomas." — Clinical guideline document