Vinblastine sulfate
Vinblastine Sulfate
Vinblastine sulfate (pronunciation: vin-BLAS-teen SUL-fate) is a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including Hodgkin's disease, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Testicular cancer, and Breast cancer. It is a vinca alkaloid, a class of anti-cancer drugs that work by preventing cells from dividing and multiplying.
Etymology
The name "vinblastine" is derived from Vinca rosea, the scientific name for the Madagascar periwinkle plant from which it is extracted, and "blastine" from the Greek word "blastos" meaning "germ" or "sprout", referring to its effect on cell growth. The term "sulfate" refers to the salt form in which the drug is most commonly administered.
Usage
Vinblastine sulfate is administered intravenously and works by interfering with the formation of the mitotic spindle, a structure that is necessary for cell division. By doing this, it prevents cancer cells from dividing and growing.
Side Effects
Common side effects of vinblastine sulfate include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and hair loss. More serious side effects can include neutropenia, a decrease in white blood cells, which can increase the risk of infection.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vinblastine sulfate
- Wikipedia's article - Vinblastine sulfate
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski