ペントスタチン

説明Pentostatin, an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, is an orphan drug introduced for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. The agent is considered a significant advance over alpha-interferon, the only other drug available for this indication. The majority of patients treated with pentostatin have been reported to remain in remission for at least four years. It is also under investigation for the treatment of other kinds of leukemia and in transplant rejection.

使用Pentostatin is a potent antitumour antibiotic isolated from a Streptomyces species. Pentostatin is a potent inhibitor of adenine deaminase and has been used therapeutically as an antitumour agent.

一般的な説明The drug is available in 10-mg vials for IV use. The drug isused to treat leukemias such as hairy cell leukemia, chroniclymphocytic leukemia, and lymphoblastic leukemia. Themechanism of action involves inhibition of the enzymeadenosine deaminase yielding increased cellular levels ofdeoxyadenosine and deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP).The increased levels of dATP are cytotoxic to lymphocytes.Pentostatin is a fermentation product of Streptomyces antibioticus.Resistance appears to involve decreased cellulartransport or increased expression of catabolic enzymes.Acid instability prevents oral administration, and the drug isonly administered by IV. The drug is distributed in totalbody water but does not enter the CNS. The majority of thedosage is excreted unchanged in the urine. Fatal pulmonary toxicity has occurred when pentostatin and fludarabine areused in combination. Toxicities include myelosuppression,immunosuppression, nausea, vomiting, headache, lethargy,and fatigue.