Question #87a17

1 Answer
Jan 12, 2015

Bacteria are prokaryotes that have specific cellular charcteristics that antibiotics attack such as cell wall structures. Humans are eukaryotes and therefore share the same cellular characteristics as eukaryotic pathogens.

Chemotherapy that attacks the cellular structures of these eukaryotic pathogens will therefore probably affect the same cellular systems as human cells , causing gross damage. This is particularly so in liver cells which are bathed in intracellular fluid with each cell coming into direct contact with any chemotherapy agent in the blood. These cells are particularly sensitive and easily killed. An individual therefore is at high risk of liver damage.

The liver damage in itself can cause death due to an accumulation of toxic material as the liver cells are not functioning.