How does chemotherapy work as a treatment for cancer? Why is it not always effective?
What will be an ideal response?
Chemotherapy relies on toxic drugs that kill dividing cells. The faster a cell divides, the more susceptible it is to the drugs. Because cancerous cells divide quickly, they are susceptible to chemotherapy. However, healthy cells in the body that divide quickly are also damaged by the chemotherapy. Cancer cells containing mutations in p53 genes are difficult to kill with chemotherapy because this technique is intended to damage the DNA of the cancer cell and trigger programmed cell death. However, because of the mutations in p53, many cancer cells are unable to self-destruct in response to DNA damage.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following statements concerning the corpus luteum is INCORRECT?
A. Secretions of the corpus luteum inhibit LH and FSH secretion. B. Secretions of the corpus luteum prepare the uterus for implantation of the embryo. C. Secretions of the corpus luteum prevent the maturation of primary oocytes. D. The major hormone secreted from the corpus luteum is progesterone. E. The major hormone secreted from the corpus luteum is estradiol.
What is the role of the lymphatic system with respect to the cardiovascular system?
A. collecting excess tissue fluids and returning them to the cardiovascular system B. producing excess tissue fluids and returning them to the urinary system C. producing excess tissue fluids and returning them to the cardiovascular system D. collecting excess tissue fluids and returning them to the urinary system E. prevention of infection
The proteins of the plasma membrane are in large part responsible for the cell's activity to interact with its environment. They act as or are involved in all of the following except:
A. packaging B. channel C. reception (receptor proteins) D. recognition E. electron transport
Your roommate is on an ultralow fat diet to try to lose weight. Given what you know about structure of the nervous system, what advice would you give him?
A. "You should eat some healthy unsaturated fats, like those found in fish, olive oil, and nuts, because your brain needs fatty acids to build the myelin sheaths around your axons." B. "You should drink large quantities of water, because the brain is mostly water." C. "You should eat trans fats, from donuts, because 'trans' is short for neurotransmission." D. "Good for you! Losing weight by any means necessary can only help your brain."