Pharmacologic Substance
mercaptopurine
[ mer-kap-toh-pyoo r-een ]
Brand Names:
Purinethol; Purixan
Effect:
Decreased DNA Integrity; Decreased RNA Integrity; Increased Cellular Death
May Treat:
Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell;
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin;
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
More Information:
Definitions related to mercaptopurine:
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A drug used to treat acute lymphatic leukemia. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A thiopurine-derivative antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Produced through the metabolism of mercaptopurine by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), mercaptopurine metabolites 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thioGMP) and 6-thioinosine monophosphate (T-IMP) inhibit nucleotide interconversions and de novo purine synthesis, thereby blocking the formation of purine nucleotides and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This agent is also incorporated into DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine, which results in the disruption of DNA replication. In addition, mercaptopurine is converted to 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MMPR) by 6-thiopurine methyltransferase; MMPRs are also potent inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis. (NCI04)NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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An antimetabolite antineoplastic agent with immunosuppressant properties. It interferes with nucleic acid synthesis by inhibiting purine metabolism and is used, usually in combination with other drugs, in the treatment of or in remission maintenance programs for leukemia.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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