Hydroxyurea

hydroxyurea /hy·droxy·urea/ (-u-re´ah) an antineoplastic that inhibits a step in DNA synthesis, used in treatment of chronic granulocytic leukemia, some carcinomas, malignant melanoma, and polycythemia vera. It is also used to reduce the frequency of painful sickle cell crisis.

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hy·drox·y·u·re·a (h-drks-y-r)

n.

An antineoplastic drug that suppresses the production of blood cell precursors in the bone marrow and is used in the treatment of certain leukemias, carcinomas, and sickle cell anemia.

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Hydroxyurea

A drug that has been shown to induce production of fetal hemoglobin. Fetal hemoglobin has a pair of gamma-globin molecules in place of the typical beta-globins of adult hemoglobin. Higher-than-normal levels of fetal hemoglobin can ameliorate some of the symptoms of thalassemia.

Mentioned in: Hemoglobinopathies, Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassemia

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hydroxyurea (hīdrok´sēyrē´),

n brand name: Hydrea;
drug class: antineoplastic;
action: acts by inhibiting DNA synthesis without interfering with synthesis of RNA or protein;
uses: melanoma, chronic myelocytic leukemia, recurrent or metastatic ovarian cancer.

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hydroxyurea

an antineoplastic agent that blocks the conversion of ribonucleotides to deoxyribonucleotides, thus stopping DNA synthesis. Called also hydroxycarbamide.