Alkylating antineoplastic agent

Carmustine

Published in Anton C. de Groot, Monographs in Contact Allergy, 2021

Carmustine is a nonspecific nitrosurea derivative and alkylating antineoplastic agent. It alkylates and cross-links DNA during all phases of the cell cycle, resulting in disruption of DNA function, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. This agent also carbamoylates proteins, including DNA repair enzymes, resulting in an enhanced cytotoxic effect. Carmustine is indicated for the treatment of brain tumors, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. It may also be administered topically in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (1).

Anticancer therapy and lung injury: molecular mechanisms

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Journal Information

Published in Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 2018

Li Li, Henry Mok, Pavan Jhaveri, Mark D Bonnen, Andrew G Sikora, N. Tony Eissa, Ritsuko U Komaki, Yohannes T Ghebre

Alkylating antineoplastic agents are a class of chemotherapeutic drugs that recognize and directly interact with DNA by transferring their alkyl group to the DNA base. Alkylating agents are very effective in treating several cancer types including hematologic malignancies, breast cancer, and lung cancer. Examples of alkylating antineoplastic agents include nitrogen mustards (e.g. cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil), nitrosureas (e.g. carmustine, streptozocin), hydrazines (procarbazine, temozolomide), alkyl sulfonates (e.g. busulfan), and metal salts (cisplatin, carboplatin). Preclinical studies and case reports indicate that these agents have significant adverse effects including causing lung toxicity that extends from acute pneumonitis to late-onset pneumonitis that progresses into fibrosis [17].

Alkylating antineoplastic agent

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Carmustine

Anticancer therapy and lung injury: molecular mechanisms