Question

one key characteristic of cancer cells is that they divide rapidly. the anticancer drug vinblastine works by disrupting mitosis. based on what you just learned about mitosis, why is vinblastine effective at killing cancer cells? rapid cell growth and cell division is a defining characteristic of cancer cells. if mitosis cannot proceed normally, cancer cells cannot continue to divide. cancer cells need to undergo mitosis to replicate their dna.

Explanation:

• The first option only restates the characteristic of cancer cells (rapid growth and division) but does not explain the drug's effectiveness.
• The second option directly connects the drug's action (disrupting mitosis) with the consequence for cancer cells (inability to continue dividing, which is crucial for their survival and spread as they rely on rapid division).
• The third option is incorrect because DNA replication occurs in the S - phase of the cell cycle, not during mitosis. Mitosis is about the division of the nucleus and cell.

Answer:

If mitosis cannot proceed normally, cancer cells cannot continue to divide.