Why are combination therapies often used in cancer treatment?

Combination therapies are employed in cancer treatment primarily to enhance treatment efficacy and mitigate the development of drug resistance. When multiple agents with different mechanisms of action are used together, they can target cancer cells more effectively. This approach can lead to improved outcomes compared to monotherapy, as cancer cells may be less likely to develop resistance to the combination of drugs.

By using agents that work through different pathways, combination therapies can also help in overcoming the heterogeneity of cancer cells within a tumor, which may express various mutations and characteristics. This multifaceted assault on the tumor can lead to better therapeutic responses and potentially prolong the duration of the response.

Additionally, using combination therapies can potentially lower the chance of cancer cells surviving treatment, as the likelihood of a cell being resistant to all agents in a combination is generally lower than to a single agent, providing a more comprehensive approach to tackling the disease.

On the other hand, minimizing costs, reducing the number of treatments, and avoiding side effects are not the primary motivations for choosing combination therapies. While these aspects can be considerations in some treatment plans, they are not the fundamental reasons for the strategic use of combinations in cancer therapy.