
First-line treatment or therapy simply refers to the initial, or first treatment recommended for a disease or illness. This may also be referred to as primary treatment, initial treatment, or induction therapy. With many conditions, including cancer, there are many possible treatments that could be effective.
What is the definition of first line therapy?
First line therapy is the treatment regimen or regimens that are generally accepted by the medical establishment for initial treatment of a given type and stage of cancer. It is also called primary treatment or therapy. The intent of first-line therapy is to cure the cancer if possible. Also called induction therapy, this primary therapy is the ...
What is first line of therapy?
First-line treatment or therapy simply refers to the initial, or first treatment recommended for a disease or illness. This may also be referred to as primary treatment, initial treatment, or induction therapy. With many conditions, including cancer, there are many possible treatments that could be effective.
What is the best first line of treatment for hypertension?
- Principles of drug therapy: Chlorthalidone (12.5-25 mg) is the preferred diuretic because of long half-life and proven reduction of CVD risk. ...
- Initial first-line therapy for stage 1 hypertension includes thiazide diuretics, CCBs, and ACE inhibitors or ARBs. ...
- CKD: BP goal should be <130/80 mm Hg. ...
What is first-line chemotherapy?
Traditional MVAC was initially the standard first-line chemotherapy regime in medically fit patients (Calabrò and Sternberg, 2012; Yagoda, 1983). It was found that patients experienced significant morbidity and toxicity from therapy.

What does lines of treatment mean?
“Lines of therapy” is the term used to describe the order in which different therapies are given to people as their disease progresses.
What is the difference between first line treatment and second-line treatment?
Second-line treatment is treatment for a disease or condition after the initial treatment (first-line treatment) has failed, stopped working, or has side effects that aren't tolerated. It's important to understand "lines of treatment" and how they differ from first line treatment and can play a role in clinical trials.
What does Second-line treatment mean?
Treatment that is given when initial treatment (first-line therapy) doesn't work, or stops working.
What does 3rd line treatment mean?
Treatment that is given when both initial treatment (first-line therapy) and subsequent treatment (second-line therapy) don't work, or stop working.
What makes a drug first line?
a drug that is the first choice for treating a particular condition because it is considered a very effective treatment for that condition with the least likelihood of causing side effects. A first-line medication may be a class of drugs (e.g., SSRIs for depression) as well as a single drug.
What is first line and second line drugs?
The first-line therapeutic drugs are the most effective and least toxic for use in the treatment of TB, while the second-line therapeutic drugs are less effective, more expensive and have higher toxicities. They are however, essential for the treatment of drug resistant forms of the bacteria (MDR-TB).
What are third line antibiotics?
In the event that antibiotic susceptibility testing is unavailable, third line treatment options include rifabutin, rifaximin and sitafloxacin based therapies.
What are the first line antibiotics?
If a bacterial infection is established:Watchful waiting is encouraged for uncomplicated cases for which reliable follow-up is available.Amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate is the recommended first-line therapy.More items...
What is 2nd line?
“Second lining” is a highly recognizable strutting, chicken-like dance move that many people use to keep pace with the band. So “second line” is a term with many meanings; it applies to a type of parade, a part of the parade, and a dance move used within that parade.
Is second round of chemo worse than first?
Overall, my second round of chemo went much better than the first... thanks to an adjustment Dr. Soule made based on my round one experience (she extended my steroid to be taken for three days after chemo, instead of just one, though with smaller doses on each day).
Is chemo worse the second time around?
The effects of chemo are cumulative. They get worse with each cycle. My doctors warned me: Each infusion will get harder. Each cycle, expect to feel weaker.
What is palliative chemotherapy?
Clarification regarding the term palliative chemotherapy is critical: palliative chemotherapy is defined as chemotherapy that is given in the non-curative setting to optimize symptom control, improve quality of life (QoL) and, ideally, to improve survival.
What is the first line of treatment?
First line therapy is the treatment regimen or regimens that are generally accepted by the medical establishment for initial treatment of a given type and stage of cancer. It is also called primary treatment or therapy. The intent of first-line therapy is to cure the cancer if possible. Also called induction therapy, this primary therapy is the first assault of chemotherapy drugs on the malignancy.
What is the intent of first line therapy?
The intent of first-line therapy is to cure the cancer if possible. Also called induction therapy, this primary therapy is the first assault of chemotherapy drugs on the malignancy.
What is second line therapy?
Second-line therapies are those tried when the first ones do not work adequately. The management of a cancer case requires regular evaluation of treatment and adjustment as needed. A break with the primary treatment and an adoption of a new regimen signals “second-line treatment.”.
Is salvage therapy considered third line therapy?
The terms “third-line therapy ” and even “fourth-line therapy” are occasionally used for subsequent treatment, but salvage therapy is also used. Written guidelines rarely specify anything beyond second-line therapy. The same treatments can be used for subsequent treatment.
Can a first line therapy be approved for second line therapy?
Sometimes first-line therapies show progress for a period of time followed by a stalling or continued growth of the cancer. Often the FDA will specifically approve a new drug for second-line therapy. This labeling is common for new drugs that treat cancers which already have accepted treatments.
Is there a law on first line therapy?
There is no law, or even a community of practice rule, that doctors must use the accepted first-line therapy for a patient, ...
Is there a law that states that doctors must use first line therapy?
There is no law, or even a community of practice rule, that doctors must use the accepted first-line therapy for a patient, although when they do they “cover their backsides” to some extent and reduce their exposure to malpractice suits. Second-line therapies are those tried when the first ones do not work adequately.
Why is DTG used in HIV treatment?
NOTE OF CAUTION The organisation says it is updating its HIV therapy guidelines to strengthen its recommendation for dolutegravir (DTG) drug as the first-line treatment because of its efficacy, tolerability and a high genetic barrier to resistance. WHO recommends once feared drug to treat HIV.
Is Palbociclib a first line treatment?
Pfizer's NDA for palbociclib, in combination with letrozole, has been accepted for filing and granted Priority Review by the FDA as a first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer who have not received previous treatment.
What makes a drug first line?
What makes a drug first-line? These are the medicines doctors first resort to for a given disease (the doctors first choice try). They are the most commonly prescribed medicines for a particular disease. These medicines are well accepted by the medical community. For asthma, they include systemic corticosteroids like Flovent, Asmanex, and Qvar.
Is corticosteroids a first line treatment for COPD?
So, it remains a first-line treatment for COPD. Likewise, because it may help some asthmatics, it remains a second-line option here. Researchers learn more. Back in the 1970s, doctors were leary that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) may cause the same side effects as systemic corticosteroids.
Is Atrovent a first line asthma medicine?
Atrovent was once-upon-a-time considered a first-line asthma medicine. It fit all the qualifications of one. But, subsequent studies did not show it benefited most asthmatics. Studies do show, however, that it does help most COPDers. So, it remains a first-line treatment for COPD.
What happens if a first line treatment does not work?
Learning your first-line treatment did not work can be scary. You may also feel a wide range of other emotions, such as anger, fear, shock, grief, and anxiety. You may wonder if you and your doctor should have chosen another option for your first treatment. You may worry about whether you have the strength to go through a new treatment. These are all normal reactions. But it is important to seek the support you need to get through this difficult time. Some strategies include: 1 Sharing your fears and anxieties with family, friends, clergy, or support groups, in-person or online 2 Connecting with someone else who has had second-line treatment and understands the emotions you are experiencing 3 Expressing your feelings in a journal or a blog 4 Practicing stress management and relaxation techniques 5 Spending time outside or around nature 6 Listening to music 7 Watching or listening to programs or shows that make you laugh
What is second line therapy?
Your doctor may then suggest a second-line treatment, also called second-line therapy. It is a different treatment that is likely to be effective. Depending on the type of cancer you have and the available drugs, you may be able to have third-line therapy or additional rounds of treatment after that.
What is the treatment for cancer called?
This type of treatment is known as palliative care or supportive care .
Why is it important to talk to your health care team?
It is important to talk with your health care team about your care throughout the treatment process. Being an informed, involved patient, asking questions, and talking about your preferences will help you and your health care team work together better.
What to do before a second line?
Before second-line treatment starts, talk with your doctor about the goal of any suggested new treatments. Also talk about your chance of getting better. You and your doctor may decide that receiving a new treatment is not the best choice. This may happen if the treatment has unpleasant or serious side effects or if the chance for success is small. ...
Is it safe to take a clinical trial?
It proves that it is safe, effective, and possibly better than the standard treatment you may already have had. Many clinical trials require that you have few or no previous treatments. Because of this, it is best to ask about clinical trials early in the treatment process.
Is second line treatment better than first line?
But the chance that second-line treatment or more rounds of treatment will have good results is usually lower than with first-line treatment. The chance that second-line treatment will be successful depends on the type of cancer you have. Second-line treatment often works very well for certain types of cancer.
Why is understanding the line of treatment important?
Understanding line of treatment becomes very important when looking at clinical trials for cancer. Some clinical trials require that people have no previous treatments, whereas others are designed for people who have had inadequate results with a previous treatment.
What is the importance of defining lines of treatment?
An example of the importance of defining lines of treatment is a 2019 study that compared different second-line treatments for lung cancer. Since there are a number of different options, and many studies look at the effectiveness of first line therapies, this can give important information to oncologists.
What is second line treatment?
Second-line treatment is treatment for a disease or condition after the initial treatment ( first-line treatment) has failed, stopped working, or has side effects that aren't tolerated. It's important to understand "lines of treatment" and how they differ from first line treatment and can play a role in clinical trials.
Why do we use second line therapy?
Second-line or further lines of therapy (third-line, fourth-line, seventh-line, etc.) may be used for a few different reasons: The first-line treatment worked but has since stopped working. The first-line treatment has side effects that are not tolerated.
Is first line treatment more effective than present treatment?
The first-line treatment has side effects that are not tolerated. A new treatment becomes available that appears to be more effective than the present treatment. With survival rates improving for many cancers, and the number of available treatments increase, some people receive many lines of therapy.
Is second line therapy better than first line?
In some cases a person will have a better response to a second line therapy than they did to first line treatment. Second-line treatments are available for most cancers, but the likelihood of effective options can vary with the type and stage of your cancer.
Is breast cancer a first line treatment?
First line treatment can include more than one treatment method. For example, if a woman has surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer, the combination of therapies is still considered first line therapy.

Understanding First-Line Treatment
Questions to Ask
- When you and your healthcare provider consider a first-line treatment or first-line treatments, think through these questions. 1. Clarify the type and stage and molecular profile of your tumor. Is there any further testing that should be done? (If you've been diagnosed with advanced cancer, ask about the molecular profile of your tumor, and if this hasn't been done, ask why not). 2. What is y…
Alternative and Complementary Treatments
- It's important when talking about treatment to clarify what is meant by "alternative treatments." Most people now use the phrase alternative treatments to refer to complementary treatments that are offered by some cancer centers. In this setting, therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, massage, and yoga are used in an integrative fashion—that is, they are used along with tradition…