Question

Explain why not all cancers affecting the same cell type respond the same way to a particular drug.

Short answer

Even cancers affecting the same cell type might have different genetic alterations, which might make a drug effective in one case but not in another, hence explaining why not all cancers affecting the same cell type respond the same way to a particular drug.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases in which cells grow and divide without respect to normal limits, invade and destroy adjacent tissues, and often spread to other locations in the body. These cancers are caused by changes to genes that control the way cells function, especially how they grow and divide.

Defining Cell Type Differences

Even though some cancers may affect the same type of cell, each cancer is unique and can have different alterations in its genetic makeup. These genetic changes could be minor, such as a single mutation in a single gene, or major, like a gross chromosomal alteration that affect hundreds or thousands of genes.

Discussing Drug Response Variation

Differences in genetic makeup can affect how cancers respond to drugs. A drug's effectiveness can vary due to the variety and complexity of genetic alterations in different cancer cells. Some drugs may target specific proteins produced by certain mutated genes. Therefore, if those genes are not mutated in a particular cancer, the drug may not be effective.

Conclusion

So even if a drug is effective on a cancer affecting a specific cell type, it may not necessarily work on another cancer affecting the same cell type, due to variations in genetic changes.