Editing Chemotherapy (section)

== Other uses ==
Some chemotherapy drugs are used in diseases other than cancer, such as in autoimmune disorders,<ref name="pmid15100330" /> and noncancerous [[plasma cell dyscrasia]]. In some cases they are often used at lower doses, which means that the side effects are minimized,<ref name="pmid15100330">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ben-Ari ET | title = Dual purpose: some cancer therapies used to treat autoimmune diseases | journal = Journal of the National Cancer Institute | volume = 96 | issue = 8 | pages = 577–9 | date = April 2004 | pmid = 15100330 | doi = 10.1093/jnci/96.8.577 | doi-access = free }}</ref> while in other cases doses similar to ones used to treat cancer are used. [[Methotrexate]] is used in the treatment of [[rheumatoid arthritis]] (RA),<ref name="pmid11454634">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cutolo M, Sulli A, Pizzorni C, Seriolo B, Straub RH | title = Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis | journal = Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases | volume = 60 | issue = 8 | pages = 729–35 | date = August 2001 | pmid = 11454634 | pmc = 1753808 | doi = 10.1136/ard.60.8.729 }}</ref> [[psoriasis]],<ref name="pmid21388454">{{cite journal | vauthors = Montaudié H, Sbidian E, Paul C, Maza A, Gallini A, Aractingi S, Aubin F, Bachelez H, Cribier B, Joly P, Jullien D, Le Maître M, Misery L, Richard MA, Ortonne JP | title = Methotrexate in psoriasis: a systematic review of treatment modalities, incidence, risk factors and monitoring of liver toxicity | journal = Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology | volume = 25 | pages = 12–8 | date = May 2011 | issue = Suppl 2 | pmid = 21388454 | doi = 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.03991.x | s2cid = 13015911 }}</ref> [[ankylosing spondylitis]]<ref name="pmid23450553">{{cite journal | vauthors = Chen J, Veras MM, Liu C, Lin J | title = Methotrexate for ankylosing spondylitis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2013 | issue = 2 | pages = CD004524 | date = February 2013 | pmid = 23450553 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD004524.pub4 | editor1-last = Chen | editor1-first = Junmin | pmc = 11711296 }}</ref> and [[multiple sclerosis]].<ref name="pmid15106195" /><ref name="pmid16900766" /> The anti-inflammatory response seen in RA is thought to be due to increases in [[adenosine]], which causes [[immunosuppression]]; effects on immuno-regulatory [[cyclooxygenase]]-2 enzyme pathways; reduction in pro-inflammatory [[cytokine]]s; and anti-proliferative properties.<ref name="pmid11454634" /> Although methotrexate is used to treat both multiple sclerosis and ankylosing spondylitis, its efficacy in these diseases is still uncertain.<ref name="pmid23450553" /><ref name="pmid15106195">{{cite journal | vauthors = Gray O, McDonnell GV, Forbes RB | title = Methotrexate for multiple sclerosis | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 2 | pages = CD003208 | year = 2004 | volume = 2010 | pmid = 15106195 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD003208.pub2 | pmc = 9006525 | editor1-last = Gray | editor1-first = Orla }}</ref><ref name="pmid16900766">{{cite journal | vauthors = Gray OM, McDonnell GV, Forbes RB | title = A systematic review of oral methotrexate for multiple sclerosis | journal = Multiple Sclerosis | volume = 12 | issue = 4 | pages = 507–10 | date = August 2006 | pmid = 16900766 | doi = 10.1191/1352458506ms1299oa | s2cid = 46120577 }}</ref> [[Cyclophosphamide]] is sometimes used to treat [[lupus nephritis]], a common symptom of [[systemic lupus erythematosus]].<ref name="pmid20107927">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ntali S, Bertsias G, Boumpas DT | title = Cyclophosphamide and lupus nephritis: when, how, for how long? | journal = Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology | volume = 40 | issue = 3 | pages = 181–91 | date = June 2011 | pmid = 20107927 | doi = 10.1007/s12016-009-8196-0 | s2cid = 11902371 }}</ref> [[Dexamethasone]] along with either [[bortezomib]] or [[melphalan]] is commonly used as a treatment for [[AL amyloidosis]]. Recently, bortezomid in combination with [[cyclophosphamide]] and dexamethasone has also shown promise as a treatment for AL amyloidosis. Other drugs used to treat [[myeloma]] such as [[lenalidomide]] have shown promise in treating AL amyloidosis.<ref>{{cite web|title=NCCN Guidelines: Systemic Light Chain Amyloidosis|url=http://williams.medicine.wisc.edu/amyloidosis.pdf|publisher=National Comprehensive Cancer Network|access-date=25 February 2015|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625164616/http://williams.medicine.wisc.edu/amyloidosis.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Chemotherapy drugs are also used in [[conditioning regimen]]s prior to bone marrow transplant ([[hematopoietic stem cell transplant]]). Conditioning regimens are used to suppress the recipient's immune system in order to allow a transplant to engraft. Cyclophosphamide is a common cytotoxic drug used in this manner and is often used in conjunction with [[total body irradiation]]. Chemotherapeutic drugs may be used at high doses to permanently remove the recipient's bone marrow cells (myeloablative conditioning) or at lower doses that will prevent permanent bone marrow loss (non-myeloablative and reduced intensity conditioning).<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bacigalupo A, Ballen K, Rizzo D, Giralt S, Lazarus H, Ho V, Apperley J, Slavin S, Pasquini M, Sandmaier BM, Barrett J, Blaise D, Lowski R, Horowitz M | title = Defining the intensity of conditioning regimens: working definitions | journal = Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation | volume = 15 | issue = 12 | pages = 1628–33 | date = December 2009 | pmid = 19896087 | pmc = 2861656 | doi = 10.1016/j.bbmt.2009.07.004 }}</ref> When used in non-cancer setting, the treatment is still called "chemotherapy", and is often done in the same treatment centers used for people with cancer.