AC-T
Meaning of AC-T: AC-T is a sequential chemotherapy regimen for breast cancer that pairs two drugs given together followed by a third drug given afterward.
Definition of AC-T
AC-T is an abbreviation for a chemotherapy regimen used to treat breast cancer, combining doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, given together for a defined number of cycles, followed afterward by a separate course of paclitaxel. The abbreviation reflects this sequence, with A and C representing the first two drugs and T representing the taxane given afterward.
Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide work through different mechanisms to damage the DNA of rapidly dividing cells, while paclitaxel, given in the second phase of treatment, instead disrupts the internal structure cells need to divide by acting on microtubules. Giving these drugs in sequence rather than all together allows each phase of treatment to be completed before the next begins.
AC-T is one of several standard chemotherapy sequences used for breast cancer, and the specific regimen chosen for a given person depends on factors related to the individual cancer and overall treatment plan.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient completed the AC-T regimen as part of treatment for breast cancer.
Good to know
The letters in AC-T stand for the drugs and drug class involved, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and a taxane, rather than describing the sequence's timing on their own, which is why the regimen is also written with a hyphen separating the two phases.