Chemotherapy induced cell death, SEM

Chemotherapy induced cell death. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a cultured cancer cell (HeLa) treated with doxorubicin to cause necrosis. Doxorubicin is a type of chemotherapy drug called an anthracycline. Cell death can be programmed as in apoptosis or unregulated as in necrosis. Necrosis can be a dose or time related effect of this drug in cultured cancer cells. This method of death can trigger inflammation and harm healthy cells, which is why oncolgists strive to tip the balance towards apoptosis. Morphologically at SEM level, necrotic cells characteristically display ruptured plasma membrane, and cell lysis. The numerous visible holes are characteristic of early necrosis. Magnification: x2500 when printed at 10 centimetres wide. Specimen courtesy of Greg Towers, UCL. For a set of images showing the treated cells see C058/5931 to C058/5967., by STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY