| antineoplastic agent, alkylating | A class of drugs that differs from other alkylating agents used clinically in that they are monofunctional and thus unable to cross-link cellular macromolecules. Among their common properties are a requirement for metabolic activation to intermediates with antitumour efficacy and the presence in their chemical structures of n-methyl groups, that after metabolism, can covalently modify cellular DNA. The precise mechanisms by which each of these drugs acts to kill tumour cells are not completely understood. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| antineoplastic agent, combined | The use of two or more chemicals simultaneously or sequentially in the drug therapy of neoplasms. The drugs need not be in the same dosage form. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent, hormonal | Antineoplastic agent that are used to treat hormone-sensitive tumours. Hormone-sensitive tumours may be hormone-dependent, hormone-responsive, or both. A hormone-dependent tumour regresses on removal of the hormonal stimulus, by surgery or pharmacological block. Hormone-responsive tumours may regress when pharmacologic amounts of hormones are administered regardless of whether previous signs of hormone sensitivity were observed. The major hormone-responsive cancers include carcinomas of the breast, prostate, and endometrium; lymphomas; and certain leukaemias. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antineoplastic agent, phytogenic | Agents, obtained from higher plants that have demonstrable cytostatic or antineoplastic activity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| antipsychotic agent | A functional category of neuroleptic drugs that are helpful in the treatment of psychosis and have a capacity to ameliorate thought disorders (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol). See: neuroleptic. Synonym: antipsychotic, major tranquilliser. (05 Mar 2000) |
| antithyroid agent | <pharmacology> Medications which suppress thyroid function. Examples include methimazole and propylthiouracil. (13 Jan 1998) |
| bacteriostatic agent | Any agent that inhibits or retards bacterial growth. Synonym: bacteriostatic agent. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biological agent | <microbiology> A disease-causing microorganism or virus, or other toxic biological matter, which is used as a weapon during war. (21 Mar 1998) |
| Bittner agent | <virology> Earlier name, now superseded, for the mouse mammary tumour virus. (18 Nov 1997) |
| blister agent | <chemistry, pharmacology> Refers to a chemical or agent that causes blisters. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bronchoconstrictor agent | Agents causing the narrowing of the lumen of a bronchus or bronchiole. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiotonic agent | Agents that have a tonic effect on the heart or increase cardiac output. They may be glycosidic steroids related to digitalis products, sympathomimetic, or other drugs and are used after myocardial infarcts, cardiac surgery, in shock, or in congestive heart failure. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cariogenic agent | Substances conducive to the production of dental caries. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cariostatic agent | Substances that inhibit or arrest dental caries formation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| reducing agent | A molecule that donates an electron in an oxidation-reduction reaction. (09 Oct 1997) |