Radiation therapy is employed for many cancers, including irradiation of the central nervous system to destroy lymphoblasts in leukemia. Which of the following accounts for the destruction of rapidly growing cells?
Disruption of DNA-RNA transcription complexes. The major effects of radiation are to damage cellular DNA by opening purine rings and rupturing phosphodiester bonds. Chemical agents such as formaldehyde can cross-link DNA, and inhibitors of DNA methylation, such as methotrexate (an inhibitor of folic acid), were the first anticancer drugs. Experimental gene therapies for cancer include the inhibition of oncogene expression and the enhancement of tumor suppressor gene activity. These therapies target paicular DNA-RNA transcription complexes or signal transduction cascades that are active in cancer cells.
Cross-linking of DNA
Demethylation of DNA
Cleavage of DNA double strands
Disruption of DNA-RNA transcription complexes