Chemicals and Drugs

Alkylating Antineoplastic Agents

A class of drugs that differs from other alkylating agents used clinically in that they are monofunctional and thus unable to cross-link cellular macromolecules. Among their common properties are a requirement for metabolic activation to intermediates with antitumor efficacy and the presence in their chemical structures of N-methyl groups, that after metabolism, can covalently modify cellular DNA. The precise mechanisms by which each of these drugs acts to kill tumor cells are not completely understood. (From AMA, Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p2026)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A class of drugs that differs from other alkylating agents used clinically in that they are monofunctional and thus unable to cross-link cellular macromolecules. Among their common properties are a requirement for metabolic activation to intermediates with antitumor efficacy and the presence in their chemical structures of N-methyl groups, that after metabolism, can covalently modify cellular DNA. The precise mechanisms by which each of these drugs acts to kill tumor cells are not completely understood. (From AMA, Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p2026)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • Alkylating Agents, Antineoplastic
  • Alkylating Antineoplastic Drugs
  • Alkylating Antineoplastics
  • Alkylating Drugs, Antineoplastic
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Antineoplastic Alkylating Agents
  • Antineoplastic Drugs, Alkylating
  • Antineoplastics, Alkylating
  • Antineoplastic Alkylating Drugs
  • Drugs, Antineoplastic Alkylating

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

22 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

96

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Alkylating Agents (1966-1995)
  • Antineoplastic Agents (1966-1995)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D27.505.519w.124.035w
  2. D27.505.954.248w.150w
  3. D27.888w.569.035.035w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Alkylating Antineoplastic Agents. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D018906. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D018906
  2. Alkylating Antineoplastic Agents. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkylating_antineoplastic_agent
  3. Alkylating Antineoplastic Agents. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q619908