Final answer:
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a pre-surgical cancer treatment that aims to shrink tumors by targeting rapidly dividing cells, potentially leading to a better surgical outcome and reduced risk of disease spread.
Step-by-step explanation:
“Neoadjuvant chemotherapy” refers to cancer treatment given before surgery to help shrink the size of cancerous tumors. This approach allows for a smaller surgical procedure, which may lead to a better outcome for the patient. Chemotherapy can involve a range of drugs and mechanisms that target rapidly dividing cells, aiming to eradicate the tumor cells and, at times, it incorporates targeted therapies that can distinguish cancerous from normal cells, leading to fewer side effects. The principle of total cell-kill is crucial for chemotherapy, as the aim is to destroy all cancer cells to prevent the spread or recurrence of the disease.