Nitrosourea is both the name of a molecule, and a class of compounds that include a nitroso

Nitroso

Nitroso refers to a functional group in organic chemistry which has the general formula RNO. Nitroso compounds are a class of organic compounds containing the nitroso functional group, R−N=O....

 (R-NO) group and a urea

Urea

Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl functional group....

.

Examples

Examples include:

• Carmustine
  Carmustine
  Carmustine or BCNU is a mustard gas-related β-chloro-nitrosourea compound used as an alkylating agent in chemotherapy...
  
  
• Lomustine
  Lomustine
  Lomustine is an alkylating nitrosourea compound used in chemotherapy. It is in the same family as streptozotocin. This is a highly lipid soluble drug, and thus crosses the blood brain barrier. This property makes it ideal for treating brain tumors, and is its primary use...
  
  
• Semustine
  Semustine
  Semustine is a drug used in chemotherapy.Structurally similar to Lomustine....
  
  
• Ethylnitrosourea (ENU)
• Streptozotocin
  Streptozotocin
  Streptozotocin is a naturally occurring chemical that is particularly toxic to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas in mammals...
  
  

Nitrosourea compounds are DNA

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...

 alkylating agents

Alkylating antineoplastic agent

An alkylating antineoplastic agent is an alkylating agent used in cancer treatment that attaches an alkyl group to DNA.The alkyl group is attached to the guanine base of DNA, at the number 7 nitrogen atom of the purine ring....

 and are often used in chemotherapy

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....

. They are lipophilic and thus can cross the blood-brain barrier

Blood-brain barrier

The blood–brain barrier is a separation of circulating blood and the brain extracellular fluid in the central nervous system . It occurs along all capillaries and consists of tight junctions around the capillaries that do not exist in normal circulation. Endothelial cells restrict the diffusion...

, making them useful in the treatment of brain tumor

Brain tumor

A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...

s such as glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, involving glial cells and accounting for 52% of all functional tissue brain tumor cases and 20% of all intracranial tumors. Despite being the most prevalent form of primary brain tumor, GBMs...

.

Side effects

Some nitrosoureas (e.g. lomustine) have been associated with the development of interstitial lung disease.

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