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USMLE
Biochemistry of Cancer
A 56-year-old woman is recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She undergoes a lumpectomy and a lymph node dissection. The biopsy results indicate that tumor cells have migrated to the lymph nodes. Her oncologist recommends chemotherapy including the agent paclitaxel (Taxol), which blocks microtubule depolymerization, thereby interfering with the cells’ ability to traverse the cell cycle. During which phase of mitosis and the cell cycle would this drug be most active?
Explanation
ExplanationThe ability of paclitaxel (Taxol) to inhibit microtubule depolymerization results in the cells being unable to complete anaphase. The cells complete metaphase, but the spindle fibers cannot shorten to allow anaphase to initiate. The replicated chromatids are unable to move to opposite ends of the cell for daughter cell formation. Metaphase occurs when the sister chromatids align on the equatorial plane. Telophase and cytokinesis are not completed if anaphase does not occur.
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