Alkylating agent
Alkylating agent
An alkylating agent (pronunciation: al-ky-lay-ting ay-gent) is a type of chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of cancer. These agents work by adding an alkyl group to the guanine base of the DNA, which prevents the DNA from dividing and thus stops the growth of cancer cells.
Etymology
The term "alkylating agent" is derived from the word "alkyl", which is a type of chemical group consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The term "agent" is used in the sense of a substance that brings about a chemical reaction.
Types of Alkylating Agents
There are several types of alkylating agents used in chemotherapy, including:
- Nitrogen mustards: These were the first type of alkylating agents used in chemotherapy. They include drugs like cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, and melphalan.
- Alkyl sulfonates: These include drugs like busulfan.
- Nitrosoureas: These are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and are used to treat brain tumors. They include drugs like carmustine and lomustine.
- Triazenes: These include drugs like dacarbazine and temozolomide.
Side Effects
Like all chemotherapy drugs, alkylating agents can have side effects. These can include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and bone marrow suppression.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alkylating agent
- Wikipedia's article - Alkylating agent
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