PLTW MI: Unit 3 Part B

Assessment Review!

Methods used to treat cancer

Radiation Therapy, Chemotherapy, Surgery, Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy

Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells

By delivering drugs that travel through the body and directly kill rapidly dividing cancer cells

Short and long term side effects of chemotherapy

Nausea, fatigue, hair loss, infection risk, and possible long‑term tissue or organ damage

How radiation therapy destroys cancer cells

By using high‑energy beams to damage DNA and kill localized cancer cells

Short and long term side effects of radiation

Fatigue, skin irritation, dryness, redness, and hair loss in the treated area

Which treatment works for metastasized cancer and why

Chemotherapy, because it circulates throughout the entire body unlike localized radiation

How myoelectric prosthetic limbs work

Sensors detect electrical signals from residual muscles and convert them into motorized movement

Pharmacogenetics

The study of how genetic differences affect individual responses to medications

Why drugs act differently in different individuals

Genes, metabolism, age, and other personal factors change how drugs are processed

How genes affect medication interactions

Gene variations alter enzymes or receptors, changing drug effectiveness or safety

SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism)

A one‑base difference in DNA

How SNP profiles affect medication choice

They help predict drug effectiveness, dosage needs, and risk of side effects

Nanotechnology

The use of extremely small materials (1–100 nm) to create tools and technologies

Nanotechnology and cancer

Nanoparticles deliver drugs directly to tumors and improve imaging while reducing harm to healthy cells

Clinical trials

Research studies that test whether medical treatments are safe and effective in humans

Nano-scale comparison

Nanoparticles are 10⁻⁹ meters; atoms are smaller and cells are larger

Why clinical trials have strict guidelines

To protect participants and ensure reliable, ethical, and unbiased data

How clinical trials ensure valid and ethical data

Through informed consent, IRB oversight, and standardized procedures

Gold standard for clinical trials

Randomized and double‑blind controlled studies

Why randomized double‑blind is the gold standard

Because it minimizes bias and makes results more trustworthy