What is the term for the systemic treatment that allows drugs to reach tumors and other distant sites?

The term for the systemic treatment that allows drugs to reach tumors and other distant sites is chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of cytotoxic medications that are designed to target and kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. Because chemotherapy is administered systemically, it travels through the bloodstream, allowing it to effectively reach and act on tumors that may not be localized or visible, including those in distant parts of the body.

This systemic approach contrasts with other treatment modalities, such as surgery, which is localized and involves the physical removal of tumors; radiation therapy, which typically targets specific areas with high doses of radiation; and immunotherapy, which stimulates the body's own immune system to fight cancer but may not have the same direct systemic action as chemotherapy does. Chemotherapy's ability to affect both primary and metastatic tumors throughout the body is a key aspect of its role in the overall treatment of cancer.