Pharmacologic Substance
melphalan Audio
[ mel-fuh-lan ]
Brand Names:
Alkeran; Evomela
Effect:
Decreased DNA Integrity; Decreased DNA Replication; Decreased Transcription to RNA
May Treat:
Breast Neoplasms; Multiple Myeloma; Neuroblastoma; Ovarian Neoplasms; Rhabdomyosarcoma
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to melphalan:
  • 4-bis-(2-chloroethyl)amino-L-phenylalanine; a bifunctional alkylating agent used as a DNA strand crosslinker and antineoplastic.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • A drug that is used to treat multiple myeloma and ovarian epithelial cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called alkylating agents.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A phenylalanine derivative of nitrogen mustard with antineoplastic activity. Melphalan alkylates DNA at the N7 position of guanine and induces DNA inter-strand cross-linkages, resulting in the inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis and cytotoxicity against both dividing and non-dividing tumor cells.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • An alkylating nitrogen mustard that is used as an antineoplastic in the form of the levo isomer - MELPHALAN, the racemic mixture - MERPHALAN, and the dextro isomer - MEDPHALAN; toxic to bone marrow, but little vesicant action; potential carcinogen.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.