What is the difference between dose-dense and dose-intense chemotherapy?
Dose-dense chemotherapy refers to a chemotherapy treatment plan where the interval between successive treatments is reduced when compared to a standard regimen. An example of this would be the BCCA protocol BRAJACTG (Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer Using Dose Dense Therapy: Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel). The drugs given in this protocol are given in the same dose on a two week schedule rather than the standard three week treatment schedule of BRAJACT. Various dose-dense treatment regimens are being investigated as a way to improve survival benefit. Dose-dense chemotherapy also implies that the overall length of the chemotherapy period is reduced. There is increased concern about toxicity with dose-dense chemotherapy regimens, including neutropenia, for which filgrastim (G-CSF) is considered. It is not common to refer to dose-intense chemotherapy, but rather to refer to the dose intensity of chemotherapy. Dose intensity is defined as the amount of drug deli
