What is the most common route of administration for chemotherapy?

What is the most common route of administration for chemotherapy?

• A. Oral
• B. Intravenous
• C. Intramuscular
• D. Topical

Answer: (B)

Chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body, making intravenous administration the most reliable way to achieve systemic exposure. Giving drugs through a vein allows precise control of dose and rate, supports various infusion schedules (bolus or continuous), and works for a wide range of agents, including those that are poorly absorbed or irritated if taken by mouth. While some regimens do include oral options for convenience or outpatient use, many cytotoxic drugs have limited or highly variable oral bioavailability or require controlled infusion to manage toxicity and achieve the desired drug exposure. Intramuscular injections and topical applications generally don’t provide as consistent or comprehensive systemic delivery for most cancers: intramuscular absorption can be unpredictable, and topical use targets only local surfaces rather than widespread disease. Therefore, intravenous administration is the standard route for systemic chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is delivered through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body, making intravenous administration the most reliable way to achieve systemic exposure. Giving drugs through a vein allows precise control of dose and rate, supports various infusion schedules (bolus or continuous), and works for a wide range of agents, including those that are poorly absorbed or irritated if taken by mouth. While some regimens do include oral options for convenience or outpatient use, many cytotoxic drugs have limited or highly variable oral bioavailability or require controlled infusion to manage toxicity and achieve the desired drug exposure. Intramuscular injections and topical applications generally don’t provide as consistent or comprehensive systemic delivery for most cancers: intramuscular absorption can be unpredictable, and topical use targets only local surfaces rather than widespread disease. Therefore, intravenous administration is the standard route for systemic chemotherapy.