Question

A 36-year-old male has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. His oncologist discusses treatment options with him. The patient is glad to hear that novel anticancer drugs used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia have a much better risk-benefit ratio than older ones, due to their improved selectivity. A major determinant for the selectivity of a given drug is

A) its target receptor ligand affinity.
B) its target receptor cell-type distribution.
C) its ionic interactions.
D) its hydrogen bonding.
E) its intrinsic activity.

Answer 1

The major determinant for the selectivity of a given anticancer drug is its target receptor ligand affinity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major determinant for the selectivity of a given anticancer drug is its target receptor ligand affinity. The affinity between the drug and its target receptor determines how specifically the drug can bind to the cancer cells and avoid binding to normal cells. This improved selectivity of novel anticancer drugs leads to a better risk-benefit ratio compared to older drugs, as they have a higher likelihood of targeting and killing cancer cells while minimizing toxicity to normal cells.