
setting. They are given in regular cycles for several months. Researchers are still investigating how many chemotherapy cycles to administer in late-stage cancers, the timing of those cycles, and the sequences of the drugs. For instance, research suggests that a three- or four-course cycle may achieve the same survival times and better quality of life than the standard of six or more course cycles. Changing even one day in a drug sequence can sometimes significantly affect the outcome. Such fine-tuning of chemotherapy regimens is likely to have the most effect on patients with advanced-stage disease, which requires more tailored treatment than early-stage disease