Explain how cytotoxic agents are used to treat cancer
What will be an ideal response?
The general idea of chemotherapy is to kill the tumor or the malignant cells without causing more damage than necessary to the patient's healthy cells. There is no cure for cancer, yet treatment with potent medications such as cytotoxic agents and antineoplastics can often suppress symptoms and provide better quality of life for the patient. Chemotherapy drugs are extremely toxic to cells and specific drugs are indicated for specific tumors or cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapeutic agents cannot tell the difference between a healthy cell and a sick cell. This is why some patients succeed in eliminating the cancer but also have unwanted side effects such as hair loss.
There are two classes of cytotoxic agents. Cycle-phase-nonspecific agents work on a cell at any time during the cell's cycle. Cycle-phase-specific agents work on a cell during a specific cycle (most are nonresting). These agents are indicated for rapidly growing tumors where there is a high growth period.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following are electrolytes? 1. Partial pressure of oxygen at 50% saturation (P50) 2. Na+ 3. Ca++ 4. HHb 5. HCO3–
a. 2 and 3 c. 2, 3, and 5 b. 1, 3, and 4 d. 2, 3, 4, and 5
Melatonin is called the "body clock" because it helps regulate ________ rhythm.
A. sleep B. circadian C. respiratory D. cardiac
The _____ provides information about the legal standards for drug quality, strength, and purity established by the federal government
a. United States Pharmacopeia(USP) b. Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics c. National Patient Safety Goals d. Physician's Desk Reference(PDR)
What kind of organism is responsible for athlete's foot?
A) fungi B) virus C) bacteria D) spore