|
Year |
2005 |
|---|---|
|
Question Number |
101 |
|
Category |
Orthopaedic Science |
Question
What is the primary mechanism by which conventional chemotherapy kills cancer cells?
1 – Direct tumor necrosis
2 – Interference with cell-cell adhesion
3 – Induction of apoptosis
4 – Tyrosine kinase inhibition
5 – Cell membrane lysis
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Answer (click for answer)
Correct Answer: #3 – Induction of apoptosis
Conventional chemotherapeutic agents work via a mechanism to halt the cell cycle of tumor cells. Tumor cells are no longer able to progress rapidly through the cell cycle (G0 ? G1 ? S ? G2). This in turn induces the tumor cell to enter the pathway of apoptosis. The other answer choices address important issues in the cell biology of tumor cells, but do not pertain to chemotherapeutic agents. Choice #1 is what is important with radiation therapy. Choice #2 addresses the loss of contact inhibition. Choice #4 deals with a specific transmembrane receptor mechanism which is not specific only to tumor cells. Choice #5 is the mechanism by which bacteriocidal agents disrupt the cell membrane of bacteria. Therefore, Choice #3 is the correct answer for chemotherapeutic agents.
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