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Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...

Cancer Therapies

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...

Tumor Immunotherapy

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Systemic therapy and synergies by combination.

Marcus-Alexander Wörns¹

¹Department of Internal Medicine I, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. woerns@uni-mainz.de

Digestive Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)

|June 26, 2013

Summary

Sorafenib offers modest survival benefits for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). New molecularly targeted therapies (MTTs) are under investigation to improve outcomes for HCC patients resistant to current treatments.

Area of Science:

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Research
Molecularly Targeted Therapy (MTT)

Background:

Conventional chemotherapy shows limited efficacy in advanced HCC.
Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, was the first agent to improve survival but offers modest benefits.
Limited treatment options exist for patients with sorafenib resistance or intolerance.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of recent developments in molecularly targeted therapy (MTT) for advanced HCC.
To highlight ongoing phase II and III trials of novel agents, focusing on antiangiogenic properties.
To explore synergistic combinations and combined treatment approaches for HCC.

Main Methods:

Review of current phase II and III clinical trials for advanced HCC treatments.
Focus on agents with antiangiogenic properties.

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Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs

Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs

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High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap² Method

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Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Potentiation of Anticancer Antibody Efficacy by Antineoplastic Drugs: Detection of Antibody-drug Synergism Using the Combination Index Equation

Published on: January 19, 2019

Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs

Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs

Published on: June 21, 2018

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap2 Method

High-throughput Identification of Synergistic Drug Combinations by the Overlap² Method

Published on: May 21, 2018

Investigation of MTT in earlier disease stages and adjuvant settings.

Main Results:

Several antiangiogenic agents (brivanib, ramucirumab, everolimus, tivantinib, resminostat) are in late-stage development.
MTT is being explored in combination with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and in the adjuvant setting.
Personalized medicine approaches based on biomarker profiles are anticipated.

Conclusions:

Despite sorafenib's limitations, MTT offers promise for advanced HCC.
Further research into novel agents, combinations, and personalized medicine is crucial for improving HCC patient outcomes.