Which of the following best describes the role of a radiosensitizer?

The role of a radiosensitizer is to increase the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Radiosensitizers are agents that, when used in conjunction with radiation treatment, can enhance the impact of radiation on tumor cells. This enhancement occurs because radiosensitizers work at the cellular level, making cancer cells more susceptible to damage from radiation.

When radiation is applied to tumor tissue, it causes DNA damage within cells. Radiosensitizers can enhance this effect by interfering with repair mechanisms that allow cancer cells to recover from radiation-induced damage or by increasing the formation of free radicals that exacerbate this damage. As a result, the tumor cells are more effectively destroyed, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes.

In contrast, the other options touch upon different aspects of cancer treatment but do not accurately describe the specific function of radiosensitizers. For instance, while some agents may enhance chemotherapy or reduce side effects, these effects do not pertain to the mechanism by which radiosensitizers operate in relation to radiation therapy. Similarly, minimizing surgical risks is not relevant to the role of radiosensitizers, which are specifically designed to complement radiation treatment rather than influence surgical procedures.