Some potential anticancer drugs work by depriving growing tumors

Question

Some potential anticancer drugs work by depriving growing tumors of needed blood vessels. The creation of blood vessels is called angiogenesis, and the experimental drugs work by inhibiting this process. The same drugs have been found to prevent obesity in rodents.

The statements above, if true, lend the strongest support to which one of the following?

(A) The cells in tumors are more similar in structure to fat cells than to other cells in the body.
(B) Drugs that inhibit angiogenesis would probably enable obese humans to lose weight.
(C) Fat tissue depends on angiogenesis in order to grow.
(D) Rodents with cancer are more likely to be obese than healthy rodents.
(E) Drugs that inhibit angiogenesis also prevent absorption of vital nutrients.

brightgmat · Answer

(A) The cells in tumors are more similar in structure to fat cells than to other cells in the body. 
Drugs work by inhibiting the angiogenesis, which is the process of creating new blood vessels. Similarity in cells is not in scope. Eliminate.
(B) Drugs that inhibit angiogenesis would probably enable obese humans to lose weight.
No support for experiments that are successful on rodent will also be successful on humans. Eliminate.
(C) Fat tissue depends on angiogenesis in order to grow. 
Drug showed prevention of obesity in rodents. This is broad but in-line with the passage. Keep
(D) Rodents with cancer are more likely to be obese than healthy rodents. 
Nothing about rodents with cancer in passage. Eliminate.
(E) Drugs that inhibit angiogenesis also prevent absorption of vital nutrients.
Nothing in passage about absorption of vital nutrients. Eliminate.

Ans - C.

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dhruva09 · Answer

Sajjad1994  Can you help with how C is correct. Looks like a leap.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hello dhruva09

There are three facts given in the question statement, identify them first.

1. Some anticancer drugs inhibit angiogenesis (creation of blood vessels).
2. These drugs deprive tumors of needed blood vessels.
3. The same drugs prevent obesity in rodents.

Now, think about the implied link of these facts. If the drugs prevent obesity in rodents, and they work by inhibiting angiogenesis, then obesity in rodents must somehow depend on angiogenesis. It is likely because fat tissue growth requires new blood vessels to supply it.

Now, evaluate each answer option.

(A)  This is not supported; the link is functional (both need angiogenesis), not structural.

(B)  Says these drugs would probably help obese humans lose weight but this is too strong; we only know they prevent obesity in rodents, not necessarily reverse it in humans.

(C)   This directly explains why inhibiting angiogenesis prevents obesity in rodents. Strongly supported.

(D)  This is not supported; no information given about correlation between cancer and obesity in rodents.

(E)  Out of the scope. Angiogenesis inhibition affects blood vessel formation, not directly nutrient absorption (though indirectly possible, but not the main point supported).

Answer: C

Some potential anticancer drugs work by depriving growing tumors

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Some potential anticancer drugs work by depriving growing tumors

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