Using breast cancer as an example, describe the importance of understanding the interactions of an individual's genotype with therapeutic drugs when treating patients
What will be an ideal response?
About 75% of all breast cancers are estrogen positive. This means that cells from these cancers carry estrogen receptors on their surfaces and that estrogen in the body helps promote the growth of these cancers. One of the drugs widely used to treat estrogen-sensitive breast cancer is tamoxifen. Once in the body, tamoxifen is converted into endoxifen, a powerful anti-estrogen drug. Tamoxifen is converted into endoxifen by a specific enzyme and four distinct phenotypic groups are recognized. One group converts tamoxifen to endoxifen very slowly and has low levels of the active drug in the body. Another group has an intermediate rate of conversion of tamoxifen to endoxifen. Members of a third group are classed as extensive metabolizers of tamoxifen, and those in the fourth group are ultrarapid metabolizers. Alleles that abolish or decrease the enzyme activity lead to significantly reduced blood levels of endoxifen. Clinical evaluation of breast cancer recurrence and genotypes with the specific enzyme indicates that women with the poorest conversion rate have a twofold to threefold higher risk of recurrence than women with higher metabolic rates. This research clearly demonstrates that genotype should be considered as an important factor in selecting drugs and dose rates for breast cancer treatment.
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In a reversible chemical reaction at equilibrium, the concentration of X (the reactant) is 0.75 mol/L, and the concentration of Y (the product) is 2.25 mol/L. At 25°C, what would be the Keq?
A) 0.33 B) 3.0 C) 1.69 D) 1.50 E) 37.5
The disinfectant screening method that is known as the ________ ________ test, is used to measure the potency of a disinfectant.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Although mutation is the original source of genetic variation, its influence on changing allelic frequencies is relatively minor
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Elephants belong to the order
A. Carnivora. B. Proboscidea. C. Artiodactyla. D. Cetacea. E. Edentata.