mitomycin

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully examines a vial of mitomycin in the laboratory.

Definition

Noun: 1. A complex of antibiotic substances obtained from a Streptomyces bacterium: Mitomycin refers to a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds produced by a specific type of soil bacterium. These compounds have antibiotic properties, meaning they can inhibit the growth of or destroy other microorganisms. 2. An anticancer drug: One specific form of this antibiotic complex (with the trade name Mutamycin) is used in chemotherapy to treat various cancers. It works by damaging the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and multiplying.

Usage Examples

• As an antibiotic/anticancer agent:
  • The study focused on the isolation of mitomycin from bacterial cultures.
  • Mitomycin C is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used in oncology.
  • The patient received a combination therapy that included mitomycin.

Advanced Usage

• "Mitomycin C": This is the most clinically significant and commonly used form of mitomycin, specifically referring to the chemical compound used as an anticancer and antibiotic drug.
  • Topical Mitomycin C is sometimes applied in ophthalmology to prevent scarring after surgery.

Variants and Related Words

• Mutamycin (n): A trade name for the pharmaceutical preparation of mitomycin C used as an anticancer drug.
• Antibiotic (n): A broader category of substances produced by microorganisms that inhibit or kill other microorganisms; mitomycin is a type of antibiotic.
• Antineoplastic (adj/n): (A substance) used to treat cancer by inhibiting the growth of malignant cells; mitomycin is an antineoplastic agent.
• Chemotherapy drug (n): A medication used in chemotherapy; mitomycin is classified as a chemotherapy drug.

Synonyms

• Cytotoxic drug: A substance that is toxic to cells, used to kill cancer cells.
• Antibiotic agent: A substance with antibiotic properties.

Notes on Meaning

The primary contemporary use of "mitomycin" is in a medical and pharmacological context, almost exclusively referring to mitomycin C as a chemotherapeutic agent. Its original meaning as a complex of antibiotic substances is more specific to microbiology and biochemistry.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a complex of antibiotic substances obtained from a streptomyces bacterium; one form (trade name Mutamycin) shows promise as an anticancer drug

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mutamycin