Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certification ONS Practice Testq

Chemotherapy is most effective in treating tumors that have what characteristic?

1. Low growth fraction

2. Stable growth

3. High growth fraction

4. Cellular dormancy

The correct answer is: High growth fraction

Chemotherapy is designed to target rapidly dividing cells, which is why tumors with a high growth fraction are particularly susceptible to its effects. Tumors that are actively dividing have more cells in the mitotic phase of the cell cycle, making them more vulnerable to agents that specifically target processes involved in cell division, such as DNA synthesis or mitosis. When considering low growth fraction tumors, or those with stable growth or cellular dormancy, these characteristics indicate that a smaller proportion of tumor cells are actively dividing at any given time. This reduced division means that chemotherapy is less effective, as it primarily affects cells that are in the process of dividing. Therefore, high growth fraction tumors present a more favorable target for chemotherapy, resulting in a better response to treatment.