Which treatment involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells?

The use of drugs to kill cancer cells is specifically associated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the administration of cytotoxic drugs that target rapidly dividing cancer cells, leading to their destruction. This approach is effective against various types of cancer and is often used as a primary treatment or as an adjuvant therapy in conjunction with surgery or radiation.

Chemotherapy drugs can be delivered intravenously, orally, or through other routes, depending on the specific protocol and cancer type. The goal of chemotherapy can include shrinking tumors before surgery, eliminating remaining cancer cells post-surgery, or managing advanced cancer to alleviate symptoms and prolong life.

In contrast to chemotherapy, surgery physically removes tumors from the body, radiation therapy uses high-energy waves to damage cancer cells, and immunotherapy harnesses the body's immune system to combat cancer. Each of these modalities has different mechanisms and therapeutic targets, thus clearly distinguishing chemotherapy's specific role in oncology.