Final answer:
Amifostine (Ethyol) is administered during chemotherapy to decrease renal toxicity and protect the kidneys without shielding tumor tissues from the treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amifostine (Ethyol) serves as a crucial chemoprotective drug, specifically designed to mitigate renal toxicity during chemotherapy. Administered alongside certain chemotherapy treatments, it aims to safeguard the kidneys from the detrimental impacts of these drugs. As chemotherapy agents lack specificity for cancer cells, they pose a risk of harming healthy tissues, including those in the kidneys. Amifostine plays a vital role by selectively shielding normal tissues, preserving their integrity without conferring protection to tumor tissues. This targeted protective effect enhances the overall safety of chemotherapy, allowing for more effective cancer treatment while minimizing the risk of kidney damage and associated complications.