AREAS COVERED: We discuss improved understanding of the concept of drug resistance, the basis of continuous therapy, intermittent clinical regimens, and adaptive therapy will be reviewed. In addition, we discuss how adaptive therapy provides guidance for future cancer treatment.
EXPERT OPINION: The current understanding of drug resistance in cancer leads to poor prognosis and limited treatment options in patients. Fighting drug resistance mutants is constantly followed by new forms of resistance. In most reported cases, continuous therapy leads to drug resistance and an intermittent clinical regimen vaguely delays it. However, adaptive therapy, conceptually, exploits multiple parameters that can suppress the growth of drug resistance and provides safe treatment for cancer patients in the future.