neoadjuvant

[ nee-oh-aj-uh-vuhnt ]

adjective

, Medicine/Medical.

1. utilizing drugs, radiation therapy, or other means of supplemental treatment before cancer surgery or other primary cancer treatment:

   Her neoadjuvant therapy included hormones and chemo, which shrank the tumor prior to its surgical removal.

Word History and Origins

Origin of neoadjuvant¹

First recorded in 1980–85; neo- ( def ) + adjuvant ( def )