Chemotherapy Biotherapy Certification ONS Practice Testq

Which type of therapy enhances the body's ability to repair or replace normal cells?

1. Active immunotherapy

2. Biotherapy

3. Chemotherapy

4. Radiation therapy

The correct answer is: Biotherapy

Biotherapy is the correct answer because it involves the use of living organisms, substances derived from living organisms, or synthetic versions of such substances to enhance the body’s natural processes. This type of therapy can stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells while simultaneously supporting the repair and regeneration of normal cells. By focusing on stimulating the body’s immune response and enhancing overall functionality, biotherapy provides a systemic and supportive approach to treatment that can help maintain or restore the health of normal tissue. This is particularly important, as traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy can damage not only cancer cells but also healthy cells, leading to a range of side effects. In contrast, while active immunotherapy also utilizes immune mechanisms, it is more specifically aimed at generating an immune response against cancer cells rather than promoting the repair of normal tissues. Chemotherapy primarily works by targeting rapidly dividing cells, which often includes both cancerous and healthy cells, whereas radiation therapy also targets cancer but can cause significant damage to normal tissue surrounding the tumor. Thus, biotherapy stands out as the therapy designed specifically to enhance the body’s ability to repair and replace normal cells during the cancer treatment process.