Last reviewed 2026-04-23 · How we verify

Maintenance chemotherapy 2

Maintenance chemotherapy 2 refers to a continuation of cytotoxic chemotherapy after initial induction therapy to sustain disease control and improve long-term outcomes.

Maintenance chemotherapy 2 refers to a continuation of cytotoxic chemotherapy after initial induction therapy to sustain disease control and improve long-term outcomes. Used for Maintenance therapy following induction chemotherapy in various malignancies (specific indication not specified).

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Maintenance chemotherapy involves administering lower doses or intermittent cycles of chemotherapeutic agents following completion of primary induction treatment. This approach aims to eliminate residual disease, delay recurrence, and prolong progression-free and overall survival by maintaining cytotoxic pressure on remaining cancer cells while allowing for recovery periods to manage toxicity.

Approved indications

• Maintenance therapy following induction chemotherapy in various malignancies (specific indication not specified)

Common side effects

• Myelosuppression
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Infection
• Mucositis

Key clinical trials

• Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Ganitumab in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma (PHASE3)
• Study BT8009-230 in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer (Duravelo-2) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
• Reduced-dose Carboplatin-doublet-chemotherapy + Cemiplimab vs Cemiplimab Monotherapy in Treatment Naive Older and Frail Patients With Metastatic NSCLC With PD-L1 <50% (PHASE2)
• Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Pembrolizumab, to the Usual Intravesical Chemotherapy Treatment (Gemcitabine) for the Treatment of BCG-Unresponsive Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (PHASE2)
• Durvalumab as Consolidation for Patients LS-SCLC (PHASE2)
• Pediatric-Inspired Regimen Combined With Venetoclax and Immunotherapy for Adult Ph-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (NA)
• A Study to Test the Addition of the Drug Cabozantinib to Chemotherapy in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Osteosarcoma (PHASE2, PHASE3)
• A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (MK-2870) Maintenance Treatment Versus Standard of Care in Participants With Platinum-sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (MK-2870-022/TroFuse-022/ENGOT-ov84/GOG-3103) (PHASE3)

Primary sources

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