Cytosine arabinoside
Cytosine Arabinoside
Cytosine arabinoside (pronunciation: sy-toe-seen a-ra-bi-no-side), also known as Ara-C or cytarabine, is a chemotherapy medication used primarily in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), lymphoma, and meningitis caused by leukemia or lymphoma.
Etymology
The term "cytosine arabinoside" is derived from its chemical structure, which is a combination of cytosine and arabinose. Cytosine is one of the four main bases found in DNA and RNA, while arabinose is a type of sugar molecule.
Usage
Cytosine arabinoside works by interfering with the synthesis of DNA, thereby inhibiting the growth and proliferation of rapidly dividing cancer cells. It is administered intravenously or intrathecally, depending on the specific condition being treated.
Side Effects
Common side effects of cytosine arabinoside include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bone marrow suppression, which can lead to a decrease in blood cell counts. More serious side effects may include lung inflammation, pancreatitis, and damage to the nervous system.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cytosine arabinoside
- Wikipedia's article - Cytosine arabinoside
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski