What is a potential goal of neoadjuvant chemotherapy?

In the context of cancer treatment, neoadjuvant chemotherapy refers to the administration of chemotherapy before surgical intervention. The primary goal of this approach is to reduce the size of the tumor, making it more amenable to surgical removal. By shrinking the tumor, neoadjuvant chemotherapy can allow for a more complete resection, potentially reducing the need for extensive surgical procedures or improving surgical outcomes.

This strategy can also help in assessing the tumor's response to chemotherapy, which can guide further treatment decisions post-surgery. Ideally, the reduction in tumor size facilitates not just the surgical procedure itself but can significantly improve the chances of achieving negative surgical margins, which is essential for minimizing the risk of recurrence.

Other options, while they may provide some benefits, do not align with the main purpose of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For example, the focus is not on increasing tumor weight, enhancing patient comfort during surgery, or reducing the need for additional therapies; rather, it is specifically centered on improving the surgical outcome by addressing the tumor prior to the operation.