alkylating agent

al·kyl·at·ing a·gent

a drug or chemical that, through the formation of covalent bonds, forms a derivatized tissue constituent permanently containing part of the drug or chemical compound; frequently carcinogenic and mutagenic, but often used in the chemotherapy of cancer (for example, nitrogen mustards and carmustine).

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

alkylating agent

Molecular biology An organic compound able to transfer an alkyl group to a nucleotide Oncology A generic term for any of a family of chemotherapeutics that cause irreversible damage to tumor cells and apoptotic destruction Route of administration IV, oral Adverse reactions Stomatitis, N&V, diarrhea, skin rash, anemia, alopecia; with cyclophosphamide, hemorrhagic cystitis, cardiac toxicity. Cf Antimetabolite, Plant alkaloid, Topoisomerase inhibitor.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

al·kyl·at·ing a·gent

(alki-lāt-ing ājĕnt)

Drug or chemical that, through the formation of covalent bonds, forms a derivatized tissue constituent permanently containing part of the drug or chemical compound.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

alkylating agent

A drug which interferes with DNA synthesis by adding an alkyl group and preventing the uncoiling of the strands. This halts DNA replication so that cells cannot reproduce, an effect useful in the treatment of cancer. Drugs in this group include nitrogen mustard, CHLORAMBUCIL, CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE, BUSULPHAN (busulfan) and thiotepa.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

Alkylating agent

A chemical that alters the composition of the genetic material of rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells, causing selective cell death; used as a topical chemotherapeutic agent to treat CTCL.

Mentioned in: Alemtuzumab, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.