Myelosuppression Health Dictionary

A CYTOTOXIC drug of the taxane group (see TAXANES). Given by intravenous transfusion, it is used under specialist supervision for the treatment of ovarian cancer (usually following surgery – see OVARIES, DISEASES OF) with or without CISPLATIN. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE (NICE) guidance in 2001 also recommended that the drug could be used to treat advanced breast cancer (see BREASTS, DISEASES OF) where initial cytotoxic therapy had failed or could not be used. Its use as ?rst-line treatment is limited to clinical trials.

Side-effects of paclitaxel include hypersensitivity, MYELOSUPPRESSION, cardiac ARRHYTHMIA and peripheral NEUROPATHY. Only a minority of patients respond to the drug, but when it works the results are often long-lasting.... paclitaxel

One of the ANTIMETABOLITES used to treat certain forms of malignant disease. Acting to inhibit the ENZYME dihydrofolate reductase, which is essential for purine and pyrimidine synthesis, it is given orally, intravenously, intramuscularly or intrathecally. Methotrexate is used as maintenance therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic LEUKAEMIA, while other uses include CHORIOCARCINOMA, nonHodgkin’s LYMPHOMA, and various solid tumours. Intrathecally, it is used in the prophylaxis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and as treatment for established meningeal cancer or lymphoma.

Side-effects include suppression of myelocytes in bone marrow, in?ammation of mucous membranes, and, rarely, PNEUMONITIS. It should be avoided whenever signi?cant renal impairment is present, while signi?cant pleural e?usion or ascites is also a contraindication. Blood counts should be carefully monitored whenever intrathecal methotrexate is given. Oral or parenteral folinic acid helps to prevent, or to speed recovery from, myelosuppression or mucositis.

Methotrexate is used in dermatology, where it may be indicated for cases of severe uncontrolled PSORIASIS unresponsive to conventional therapy; it may also be indicated for severe active RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Because of its potentially severe haematological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and other toxicities it should be used only by specialists and appropriate renal and liver function tests carried out before and during treatment. It should be avoided in pregnancy, and conception should be avoided for at least six months after stopping, as should breast feeding. Concurrent administration of aspirin or other NONSTEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUGS (NSAIDS) reduces methotrexate excretion, increasing its toxicity, and should therefore be avoided whenever possible.... methotrexate

A group of CYTOTOXIC drugs administered intravenously for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer (see OVARIES, DISEASES OF) and secondary spread of breast cancer (see BREASTS, DISEASES OF). Given under specialist supervision in hospital, taxanes are not e?ective for all patients but results are encouraging when they do respond. Side-effects include HYPERSENSITIVITY, MYELOSUPPRESSION, cardiac ARRHYTHMIA, and peripheral NEUROPATHY. Examples of the taxanes are PACLITAXEL and DOCETAXEL.... taxanes

n. a drug of the *fluoropyrimidine class that is used in treatment of advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer. Side-effects may include blood disorders (see myelosuppression) and mouth ulcers.... capecitabine

n. a *thionamide used to reduce the production of thyroid hormone in cases of overactivity of the gland (thyrotoxicosis). A prodrug, it is converted to its biologically active metabolite, methimazole, within the body. Gastrointestinal upsets, rashes, and itching may occur; more rarely, carbimazole may cause *myelosuppression.... carbimazole

n. a derivative of platinum that is used in the treatment of advanced ovarian and lung cancers. It is similar to *cisplatin but has fewer side-effects; in particular, it causes less nausea and nephrotoxicity but more myelosuppression.... carboplatin

any drug that damages or destroys cells: usually refers to those drugs used to treat various types of cancer. There are various classes of cytotoxic drugs, including *alkylating agents (e.g. *chlorambucil, *cyclophosphamide, *melphalan), *antimetabolites (e.g. *fluorouracil, *methotrexate, *mercaptopurine), *anthracycline antibiotics (e.g. *doxorubicin, *daunorubicin, *dactinomycin), *vinca alkaloids, and platinum compounds (e.g. *carboplatin, *cisplatin). Other cytotoxic drugs include *taxanes and *topoisomerase inhibitors, and some *monoclonal antibodies (e.g. *bevacizumab, *trastuzumab) have cytotoxic activity. All these drugs offer successful treatment in some conditions and help reduce symptoms and prolong life in others. Cytotoxic drugs destroy cancer cells by interfering with cell division, but they also affect normal cells, particularly in bone marrow (causing *myelosuppression), hair follicles (causing hair loss), the stomach lining (resulting in severe nausea and vomiting), mouth (causing soreness), and fetal tissue (they should not be taken during the later stages of pregnancy). Dosage must therefore be carefully controlled. See also chemotherapy.... cytotoxic drug

n. a drug used in the treatment of melanoma and (in combination with other *cytotoxic drugs) soft tissue sarcomas and Hodgkin’s disease. Side-effects include severe nausea and vomiting and *myelosuppression.... dacarbazine

(5FU) n. a drug that prevents cell growth (see antimetabolite) and is used in the treatment of solid tumours, such as cancers of the digestive system and breast (see also folinic acid). Side-effects may include digestive and skin disorders, mouth ulcers, hair loss, nail changes, and blood disorders (see myelosuppression). Fluorouracil is also applied as a cream to treat certain skin conditions, including skin cancer.... fluorouracil

n. an *antimetabolite used for treating pleural *mesothelioma and advanced *non-small-cell lung cancer. Side-effects include *myelosuppression, gastrointestinal symptoms, and skin disorders.... pemetrexed

n. a *cytotoxic drug that is used in treating *hairy cell leukaemia; it works by interfering with the action of the enzyme adenosine deaminase. Side-effects, which may be severe, include *myelosuppression.... pentostatin

n. a drug that inhibits growth of cancer cells by preventing cell division and is used to treat such cancers as Hodgkin’s disease. Side-effects may include loss of appetite, nausea, *myelosuppression, and rash.... procarbazine

one of a group of *antimitotic drugs (see also cytotoxic drug) derived from the periwinkle (Vinca rosea). Vinca alkaloids are used especially to treat leukaemias and lymphomas; they include vinblastine, vincristine, and vindesine. Vinorelbine is used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer and *non-small-cell lung cancer. Vinflunine is given by intravenous infusion to treat *transitional cell carcinoma. Vinca alkaloids are highly toxic; side-effects include *myelosuppression, peripheral neuropathy, and severe irritation at the injection site.... vinca alkaloid