Question

a) One of your colleagues has identified a chemical that causes extensive DNA damage that leads to death of proliferating cells. Would this be helpful as a chemotherapy agent for prostate cancer patient? If yes, explain why. If no, explain what properties of a chemotherapy agent are needed.

b) Your colleague also has a chemical that will induce apoptosis even in cells lacking p53 and that can be specifically delivered to tumors. Would this be a positive therapy for this patient? Why or why not?

Answer 1

a). Chemotherapeutic agents or cytotoxic drugs are the drugs that act generally by killing the cells with particular characteristics. The chemotherapeutic agents used in the cancer treatment act by killing the rapidly dividing cancer cells. Not all the drugs that kill proliferating cells cannot be used in the treatment. Because the rapidly dividing cancer cells are different from the normally proliferating cells. So, apart from the ability to kill the proliferating cells, it is necessary for the chemotherapeutic agent to show "selective toxicity" and have a higher therapeutic index.

b). Lack of p53 activity is one of the characteristics of prostate cancer. So, a chemotherapeutic drug that can be specifically delivered to tumor cells with lack of p53 activity can be beneficial to the given patient.