[Campbell Biology P.298] Based on the information provided, which of the following statement... | Practice Question

Based on the information provided, which of the following statements about chemotherapy, specifically concerning the drug Taxol and its side effects, is/are correct?

  • A: Taxol prevents microtubule depolymerization, which stops actively dividing cells from proceeding past metaphase.
  • B: Chemotherapy drugs primarily target non-dividing cells, which explains their effectiveness against cancer.
  • C: Side effects like nausea and hair loss occur because chemotherapy drugs affect frequently dividing normal cells, such as those in the intestine and hair follicles.
  • D: Chemotherapy is the preferred treatment for localized tumors because it only affects the cancerous cells at the original site.

Explanation

The text explicitly states, 'For example, the drug Taxol freezes the mitotic spindle by preventing microtubule depolymerization, which stops actively dividing cells from proceeding past metaphase and leads to their destruction.' This confirms statement A. It also explains that 'The side effects of chemotherapy are due to the effects of the drugs on normal cells that divide frequently, due to the function of that cell type in the organism. For example, nausea results from chemotherapy's effects on intestinal cells, hair loss from effects on hair follicle cells...'. This confirms statement C. Statement B is incorrect because chemotherapy targets actively dividing cells. Statement D is incorrect as chemotherapy is for metastatic tumors and affects cells throughout the body.