| Health / Medical Topics |
Mercaptopurine
Pronunciation
Definition 1
A drug used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It may also be used to treat certain other conditions, such as Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Mercaptopurine stops cells from dividing and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimetabolite. Also called Purinethol. (NCI Dictionary)
Definition 2
A thiopurine-derivative antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Produced through the metabolism of mercaptopurine by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), mercaptopurine metabolites 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thioGMP) and 6-thioinosine monophosphate (T-IMP) inhibit nucleotide interconversions and de novo purine synthesis, thereby blocking the formation of purine nucleotides and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This agent is also incorporated into DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine, which results in the disruption of DNA replication. In addition, mercaptopurine is converted to 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MMPR) by 6-thiopurine methyltransferase; MMPRs are also potent inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 3
A drug used to treat acute lymphatic leukemia. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites. (NCI Dictionary)
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
