mercaptopurine

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-005275",
  "term": "mercaptopurine",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A drug used with other drugs to treat adults and children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Mercaptopurine stops cells from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimetabolite. Also called Purinethol and Purixan.",
    "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 (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."
  ],
  "abbreviation": "6-MP",
  "synonyms": [
    "Purinethol",
    "Purixan",
    "6-mercaptopurine",
    "6 thiohypoxanthine",
    "6 thiopurine",
    "6-mercaptopurine monohydrate",
    "6-purinethiol",
    "6-thiopurine",
    "6-thioxopurine",
    "Azathiopurine",
    "Leupurin",
    "Mercapurin",
    "Mern",
    "Purimethol"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/mercaptopurine/"
}