Notes

Treatment/Cellular response to treatment
There are several ways to treat colorectal cancer, depending on its type and stage.
 Surgery (the type of surgery will depend on whether it is for colon or rectal cancer)
 Radiation therapy
 Chemotherapy
 Targeted therapy
For advanced colon and rectal cancer, ablation or embolization may also be used.
Cellular Responses to each Treatment
Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy the cancer cells.

Chemotherapy drugs attack cells that are dividing quickly, which is why they work against cancer cells. But other cells in the body, such as those in the bone marrow (where new blood cells are made), the lining of the mouth and intestines, and the hair follicles, are also dividing quickly. These cells can be affected by ch





chemo too, which can lead to side effects.
Targeted therapy target the protein and gene changes that can cause cancer. It causes less severe side effects than Chemotherapy.


Effects on cell growth/reproduction
Radiation therapy kills cancerous cells by damaging their DNA or create charged particles within the cells that in turn damage the DNA. Cancer cells whose DNA is damaged beyond repair stop dividing or die. When the damaged cells die, they are broken down and eliminated by the body’s natural processes.
Chemotherapy effects the cells by slowing or stopping the growth of these cancer cells. Either used to treat cancer or ease cancer symptoms.
Targeted Therapy effects cell growth by helping the immune system destroy cancer cells, stop cancer cells from growing, stop signals that help form blood vessels, delivers cell-killing substances to cancer cells, cause cell death, and starve cancer of the hormones it needs to grow.