Question

What characteristic makes cancer cells susceptible for radiation/chemotherapy?

Answer 1

The cells of a tumor are different from normal cells. The cells of benign neoplasm are similar in appearance to normal tissue but the malignant cells lack the normal differentiation and appear different from normal cells. The cells lack the property of contact inhibition and clumped together to form a mass of tissue. The lack of differentiation among the cells of the malignant tumor is a characteristic feature called Pleomorphism.

Pleomorphism is characterized by great variation in size and shape of cells and the nuclei. The cells lack the orientation and alignment and the nuclei are dark and may exhibit extra genetic material or hyperchromatism. Several mitotic structures with abnormal configuration are observed. The mutated cellular DNA is the major cause of cancer in association with exposure to radiation or carcinogens that bring about genetic changes resulting in mutations in DNA. The normal cellular genes like protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes turn into cancerous genes by accumulation of mutations. The mutated DNA is detected in the abnormal cancerous cells.

The cancer treatment involves three major modes of treatment called surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The surgery is the choice of the treatment of discrete neoplasms which can be mechanically removed. The radiation damages the DNA of abnormal cells in a tumor and also normal cells of surrounding tissues.

The drug treatment given in therapy of malignant neoplasms is called chemotherapy. It also affects the rapidly dividing cells and suppression of tumors in various types of cancers. The drugs either prevent the cell division or induce the apoptosis of cells in tumors

Answer 2

One characteristic that makes cancer cells susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy is their high rate of cell division and proliferation. Cancer cells grow and divide at a much faster rate than normal, healthy cells in the body. Radiation and chemotherapy are designed to target rapidly dividing cells, and this is where cancer cells are most vulnerable.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to damage the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and growing further. Since cancer cells divide rapidly, they are more likely to be affected by radiation and less capable of repairing the damage caused by radiation.

Chemotherapy, on the other hand, involves the use of drugs that target rapidly dividing cells. These drugs interfere with various stages of the cell cycle, preventing cancer cells from dividing and ultimately leading to their death. Again, because cancer cells divide more frequently than normal cells, they are more sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy.

In contrast, normal healthy cells in the body generally have a slower rate of cell division, making them less affected by radiation and chemotherapy. However, some normal cells with a high rate of division, such as hair follicle cells and cells lining the digestive tract, can also be affected by these treatments, leading to side effects. The goal of cancer treatment is to find a balance between targeting cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells.