nitrosourea

nitrosourea /ni·tro·so·urea/ (ni-tro″so-u´re-ah) any of a group of lipid-soluble biological alkylating agents, including carmustine and lomustine, which cross the blood-brain barrier and are used as antineoplastic agents.

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nitrosourea

[nītrō′sōyoo͡rē′ə]

one of a group of alkylating drugs used as antineoplastic drugs in the chemotherapy of brain tumors, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's disease, adenocarcinomas, hepatomas, chronic leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, and cancers of the breast and ovaries. They have been less successful in therapy for cancers of the lungs, head, neck, and GI tract. Like other alkylating agents, they have severe toxic effects, including bone marrow depression. Nausea and vomiting are almost always present. These drugs can cause fetal harm and should not be used during pregnancy. Carmustine and lomustine are typical examples of this group. See also alkylating agent.

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nitrosourea [ni-tro″so-u-re´ah]

any of a group of cell cycle phase nonspecific, lipid soluble biological alkylating agents, including carmustine, lomustine, semustine, and streptozocin; they cross the blood-brain barrier and are used as antineoplastic agents. Streptozocin is an antibiotic that contains a nitrosourea group and differs somewhat in action from the other three.

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nitrosourea

any of a group of lipid-soluble biological alkylating agents, including carmustine and lomustine, which cross the blood-brain barrier and are used as antineoplastic agents.

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nitrosourea

Oncology Any of a group of lipid-soluble alkylating anticancer drugs–carmustine–BCNU, lomustine–CCNU, which cross the blood-brain barrier, and are used to manage brain tumors