Which one of the following can help in destroying the tumor by activating the immune system of the patient?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → α-interferon
Option (1) Opioids — Incorrect. Opioids, such as morphine and heroin, are drugs that bind to opioid receptors in the central nervous system and the gut. Morphine is a strong pain killer. They do not activate the immune system against a tumour.
Option (2) β-interferon — Incorrect. Interferons are proteins that virus-infected cells secrete to protect the non-infected cells from the virus. The interferon given to cancer patients as a biological response modifier is α-interferon, not β-interferon.
Option (3) α-interferon — Correct. Tumour cells can escape being found and destroyed by the immune system. α-interferon is a biological response modifier: it activates the patient’s immune system, which then helps to destroy the tumour.
Option (4) Cannabinoids — Incorrect. Cannabinoids are chemicals from the plant Cannabis sativa, as in marijuana and charas. They affect the heart and blood vessels and are drugs of abuse, not a cancer treatment.
NCERT Extract:
Cancer – “… Tumor cells have been shown to avoid detection and destruction by immune system. Therefore, the patients are given substances called biological response modifiers such as α-interferon which activates their immune system and helps in destroying the tumor.”
