♦Melphalan (mel’-fa-lan) Alkeran Pregnancy Category D Mechanism of Action Cell cycle-nonspecific alkylating agent that alkylates and impairs DNA replication, causing cell lysis. Indications Ovarian carcinoma; multiple myeloma; bone marrow transplant…
♦Megestrol Acetate (me-jess’-trole) Megace Pregnancy Category X Mechanism of Action Synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring steroid hormone progesterone with an unknown mechanism of anti-neoplastic activity. Indications Breast carcinoma, endometrial…
♦Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (me-drox-ee-proe-jess’-te-rone) Amen, Curretab, Provera, Depo-Provera Pregnancy Category X Mechanism of Action A progestin that promotes differentiation and maintenance of the endometrium, inhibits growth of sensitive malignancies, prevents ovulation…
♦Mechlorethamine Hydrochloride (me-klor-eth’-a-meen) Mustargen, nitrogen mustard Pregnancy Category D Mechanism of Action Cell cycle-nonspecific alkylating agent that causes abnormal base pairing of guanine and thymine, DNA cross-linking, and impaired RNA…
♦Lomustine (loe-mus’-teen) CCNU, CeeNu Pregnancy Category D Mechanism of Action Nitrosourea alkylating agent that prevents alkylation of DNA and RNA, which inhibits DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Indications Brain tumors,…
♦Levamisole (lev-am’-ih-sole) Ergamisol Pregnancy Category C Mechanism of Action Mediates the potentiation of monocyte, macrophage, T-lymphocyte, and antibody production. Indications Combined with 5-fluorouracil for patients with Duke’s C resected colon…
♦Leuprolide (loo-proe’-lide) Lupron, Lupron Depot, Lupron Depot-Ped Pregnancy Category X Mechanism of Action GnRH agonist that binds to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone cell surface receptors in the pituitary. Indications Palliative treatment of…
♦Leucovorin Calcium (loo-koh-vor’-in) Citrovorum factor, folinic acid Pregnancy Category C Mechanism of Action Essential for purine and DNA synthesis; bypasses the inhibitor action of folic acid antagonists. Indications ♦ Folinic…
♦Irinotecan (eye-ree-no’-tee-kan) Camptosar, CPT-11 Pregnancy Category D Mechanism of Action A plant alkaloid that inhibits the topoisomerase I enzyme. This enzyme plays a critical role in DNA replication and transcription….
♦Interferon-gamma (in-ter-feer’-on) Actimmune Pregnancy Category C Mechanism of Action Exerts immunomodulatory properties by phagocyte-activating effects; acts as a lymphokine of the interleukin type; enhances oxidative metabolism of tissue macrophages, antibody-dependent…
