Question

Which of the following cancer treatments prevents growth of blood vessels that support growing tumors? a. immunotherapy b. anti-angiogenic drugs c. gene therapy d. radiation therapy

Short answer

b. anti-angiogenic drugs

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Question

We need to identify which cancer treatment method is specifically designed to prevent the growth of blood vessels that support tumor growth.

Review the Treatment Options

There are four options provided: immunotherapy, anti-angiogenic drugs, gene therapy, and radiation therapy. Each has different mechanisms and targets in cancer treatment.

Define Anti-Angiogenic Drugs

Anti-angiogenic drugs are a category of cancer treatments that inhibit the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). Tumors require blood vessels to supply nutrients, so stopping this process can hinder tumor growth.

Eliminate Option A - Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy helps the immune system fight cancer, but it does not specifically target the blood vessels supporting tumors.

Eliminate Option C - Gene Therapy

Gene therapy involves altering the genes within cancer cells to stop the disease, rather than directly preventing blood vessel growth.

Eliminate Option D - Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles to destroy cancer cells, but it does not prevent the formation of blood vessels.

Confirm Remaining Option B - Anti-Angiogenic Drugs

Anti-angiogenic drugs are the treatment specifically designed to prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow, making it the correct answer.

Key concepts

immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment designed to strengthen and harness the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. This treatment works by boosting the natural defenses of the body so it can locate and destroy cancer cells more effectively.

There are various forms of immunotherapy, including monoclonal antibodies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and cancer vaccines.

• Monoclonal antibodies: These are lab-created molecules that can bind to specific targets on cancer cells, marking them for destruction by the immune system.
• Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These drugs help the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells by blocking proteins that suppress immune responses.
• Cancer vaccines: Vaccines can help the body recognize cancer cells and generate an immune response against them.

Unlike treatments that target the tumor directly, immunotherapy empowers the immune system to identify and eliminate cancer cells throughout the body.

anti-angiogenic drugs

Anti-angiogenic drugs are a class of cancer treatments aimed at preventing the formation of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Tumors need a supply of blood to grow and spread, and they stimulate the growth of new blood vessels to obtain this supply.

Anti-angiogenic drugs work by inhibiting factors that promote blood vessel growth, effectively 'starving' the tumor of the nutrients and oxygen it needs.

Some common mechanisms of anti-angiogenic drugs include:

• Blocking VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a key protein that promotes blood vessel formation.
• Inhibiting receptors on the surface of cells that respond to angiogenic signals.
• Interrupting signaling pathways inside cells that trigger angiogenesis.

By targeting the vascular system that supports tumors, these drugs help to slow and inhibit cancer growth.

gene therapy

Gene therapy is an innovative approach to treating cancer by modifying the genetic material within a patient's cells. This can involve replacing a faulty gene, introducing a new gene, or making existing genes more effective at combating cancer.

Gene therapy can be conducted in a few ways:

• Gene addition: Introducing new genes into cancer cells to help the immune system identify and attack them.
• Gene replacement: Replacing defective genes responsible for cancer growth with functional ones.
• Gene editing: Altering the DNA within cells to correct mutations directly.

Gene therapy provides a targeted approach by addressing the genetic basis of cancer, making it a promising option for personalized treatment plans. Unlike anti-angiogenic drugs, gene therapy focuses on altering the behavior of cancer cells themselves, rather than targeting the blood supply supporting them.

radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays, gamma rays, or protons, to destroy or damage cancer cells. By targeting specific areas, radiation therapy can reduce the size of tumors and kill cancer cells.

There are two main types of radiation therapy:

• External beam radiation therapy: Delivers radiation from outside the body, focusing it on the cancerous area.
• Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy): Involves placing radioactive material directly inside or near the tumor.

Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA inside cells, making it impossible for them to grow and divide.

While effective at shrinking tumors and destroying cancer cells, it does not specifically prevent the formation of blood vessels that tumors need to grow, unlike anti-angiogenic drugs.