What are the treatments categorized as systemic therapy?

Systemic therapy refers to treatments that affect the entire body, as they are designed to target cancer cells that may have spread beyond the original tumor site. The correct answer includes chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy, all of which work systematically.

Chemotherapy employs cytotoxic drugs that circulate through the bloodstream to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells throughout the body. Immunotherapy utilizes the body’s own immune system to recognize and combat cancer cells, offering a systemic approach as it enhances immune responses in various parts of the body. Hormone therapy works by manipulating hormonal levels to restrict cancer cell growth, particularly in cancers sensitive to hormones, such as breast and prostate cancers.

In contrast, other treatments such as surgery and radiation are usually localized. Surgery removes the tumor and may involve only nearby tissues, while radiation targets specific areas where cancer cells are present. Therefore, they do not fit the systemic therapy classification, which is focused on delivering treatment throughout the body.