Antibiotic
deoxycoformycin
Brand Names:
Nipent
Effect:
Decreased DNA Integrity; Decreased RNA Integrity; Increased Cellular Death
May Treat:
Leukemia, Hairy Cell
More Information:
Definitions related to pentostatin:
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A potent inhibitor of ADENOSINE DEAMINASE. The drug induces APOPTOSIS of LYMPHOCYTES, and is used in the treatment of many lymphoproliferative malignancies, particularly HAIRY CELL LEUKEMIA. It is also synergistic with some other antineoplastic agents and has immunosuppressive activity.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A purine nucleotide analogue antibiotic isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces antibioticus. Also known as 2'-deoxycoformycin, pentostatin binds to and inhibits adenine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme essential to purine metabolism; ADA activity is greatest in cells of the lymphoid system with T-cells having higher activity than B-cells and T-cell malignancies higher ADA activity than B-cell malignancies. Pentostatin inhibition of ADA appears to result in elevated intracellular levels of dATP which may block DNA synthesis through the inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase. This agent may also inhibit RNA synthesis and may selectively deplete CD26+ lymphocytes. (NCI04)NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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The active ingredient in a drug that is used to treat hairy cell leukemia and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Pentostatin blocks a protein needed for cell growth and may kill cancer cells. It is made by a bacterium. It is a type of adenosine deaminase inhibitor.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(deoxycoformycin) Adenine nucleotide analog which inhibits adenine deaminase, used as an immunosuppressant to augment antineoplastics.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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