Cancer is treated by killing the abnormal cells.Drugs are used to disrupt the cell cycle by preventing DNA replication or preventing mitosis by inhibiting the spindle formation.These chemotherapy drugs also affect normal cells. However, fast-growing cells such as hair-follicle cells are more likely to be damaged by chemotherapy drugs.Patients often lose their hair.
Treatment of Cancer
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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.2.2 All cells arise from other cells. Topic: The Cell Cycle.
Key terms in this lesson
- cell cycle
- The regular sequence of events in the life of a dividing cell, consisting of interphase, mitosis and cytokinesis.
- mitosis
- Nuclear division that produces two daughter nuclei, each genetically identical to the parent nucleus.
More in The Cell Cycle
- Metaphase
- Anaphase
- Telophase
- Cytokinesis
- The Importance of Mitosis
- Cancer and the Control of Mitosis
- Cell Division in Prokaryotic Cells
- The Replication of Viruses
All 12 lessons in The Cell Cycle · All AQA AS-level Biology topics