Anaerobin

The experimental anti-cancer drug Anaerobin

The cardiovascular system shows local autoregulation which means that when an area of tissue has an increased demand for oxygen the arterioles supplying that tissue dilate and allow more oxygenated blood to flow to the area. This even occurs in response to the demand for oxygen by a growing tumour.

Recent trials have shown that the experimental anti-cancer drug Anaerobin is effective in slowing the growth of tumours in laboratory animals. The mechanism for the action of Anaerobin appears to be straightforward. Anaerobin affects the local autoregulation of blood flow in all tissues except the lungs. In areas of tissue with high oxygen demand, including tumours, Anaerobin grossly reduces blood flow. This can reduce the amounts of oxygen and nutrients supplied to a tumour by up to 99%.

Professor Klaus Weilebaum, a cardiac physiologist, recently wrote ‘Anaerobin has potential as an anti-cancer drug but a local reduction in blood flow when oxygen demand is high may have serious side-effects, because not only tumours show high oxygen demand. It is not surprising that laboratory animals treated with Anaerobin are not very active and show evidence of kidney damage’.

Please answer both of the following, in an essay of about 2000 words.

(a) Choose three organs of the human body and speculate on the effects of Anaerobin upon them.

(b) How could the possible side effects of Anaerobin be reduced? Please justify your recommendation.

Anaerobin is still being experimentally evaluated, so there is no other information about it. To answer (a) and (b) above you need to use your knowledge of normal and abnormal physiology to logically argue the effects of this drug on the organs and systems of the human body.

(Suggested length 2000 words).

Assignment assessment criteria

HD (85% or higher): Original style and arguments, explaining concepts clearly and logically in the student’s own words without unexplained technical terms...