Pentostatin
Encyclopedia
Pentostatin is an anticancer chemotherapeutic drug.
.
It mimics the nucleoside
adenosine and thus inhibits the enzyme adenosine deaminase
, interfering with the cell's ability to process DNA.
Cancer
cells generally divide more often than healthy cells; DNA is highly involved in cell division (mitosis
) and drugs which target DNA-related processes are therefore more toxic to cancer cells than healthy cells.
. It is given by intravenous
infusion once every two weeks for three to six months.
Additionally, pentostatin has been used to treat steroid-refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease
.
Pentostatin is also used in CLL
patients who have relapsed.
Mechanism
It is classified as a purine analog, which is a type of antimetaboliteAntimetabolite
An antimetabolite is a chemical that inhibits the use of a metabolite, which is another chemical that is part of normal metabolism. Such substances are often similar in structure to the metabolite that they interfere with, such as the antifolates that interfere with the use of folic acid...
.
It mimics the nucleoside
Nucleoside
Nucleosides are glycosylamines consisting of a nucleobase bound to a ribose or deoxyribose sugar via a beta-glycosidic linkage...
adenosine and thus inhibits the enzyme adenosine deaminase
Adenosine deaminase
Adenosine deaminase is an enzyme involved in purine metabolism. It is needed for the breakdown of adenosine from food and for the turnover of nucleic acids in tissues.-Reactions:...
, interfering with the cell's ability to process DNA.
Cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
cells generally divide more often than healthy cells; DNA is highly involved in cell division (mitosis
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, in two separate nuclei. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the nuclei, cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane into two cells containing roughly...
) and drugs which target DNA-related processes are therefore more toxic to cancer cells than healthy cells.
Uses
Pentostatin is used to treat hairy cell leukemiaHairy cell leukemia
Hairy cell leukemia is an uncommon hematological malignancy characterized by an accumulation of abnormal B lymphocytes. It is usually classified as a sub-type of chronic lymphoid leukemia...
. It is given by intravenous
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
infusion once every two weeks for three to six months.
Additionally, pentostatin has been used to treat steroid-refractory acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease
Graft-versus-host disease
Graft-versus-host disease is a common complication after a stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant from another person . Immune cells in the donated marrow or stem cells recognize the recipient as "foreign". The transplanted immune cells then attack the host's body cells...
.
Pentostatin is also used in CLL
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia , also known as chronic lymphoid leukemia , is the most common type of leukemia. Leukemias are cancers of the white blood cells . CLL affects B cell lymphocytes. B cells originate in the bone marrow, develop in the lymph nodes, and normally fight infection by...
patients who have relapsed.