Alkeran

This page contains recent news articles, when available, and an overview of Alkeran but does not offer medical advice. You should contact your physician with regard to any health issues or concerns.


Overview:

Alkeran
(when available)

Pharmacology and use:
Melphalan is an antineoplastic in the class of alkylating agents and is used to treat various forms of cancer. Alkylating agents are so named because of their ability to add alkyl groups to many electronegative groups under conditions present in cells. They stop tumor growth by cross-linking guanine bases in DNA double-helix strands - directly attacking DNA. This makes the strands unable to uncoil and separate. As this is necessary in DNA replication, the cells can no longer divide. In addition, these drugs add methyl or other alkyl groups onto molecules where they do not belong which in turn inhibits their correct utilization by base pairing and causes a miscoding of DNA. Alkylating agents are cell cycle-nonspecific. Alkylating agents work by three different mechanisms all of which achieve the same end result - disruption of DNA function and cell death. Used to treat cancer of the ovaries and a certain type of cancer in the bone marrow

Mechanism Of Action:
Alkylating agents work by three different mechanisms: 1) attachment of alkyl groups to DNA bases, resulting in the DNA being fragmented by repair enzymes in their attempts to replace the alkylated bases, preventing DNA synthesis and RNA transcription from the affected DNA, 2) DNA damage via the formation of cross-links (bonds between atoms in the DNA) which prevents DNA from being separated for synthesis or transcription, and 3) the induction of mispairing of the nucleotides leading to mutations.

News Articles on Melphalan

Celgene's Surprising New Hope for Blood Cancer  -  ‎Dec 18, 2009‎
The stem cell procedure occurs simultaneously with high doses of chemotherapy, usually GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Alkeran. “[W]e do not believe this was ... Minyanville.com

Revlimid Maintenance Therapy Significantly Extends Disease-Free Survival  -  ‎Dec 22, 2009‎
...own stem cells were collected prior to high-dose chemotherapy with melphalan (Alkeran) and then the stem cells were transplanted after chemotherapy. ... The Myeloma Beacon

Addition Of Thalidomide To Induction Therapy Increases Response Rates In ...  -  ‎Dec 29, 2009‎
The older patients, median age 73 years, were randomized to receive either melphalan (Alkeran) and prednisone or cyclophasphamide, thalidomide, ... The Myeloma Beacon

Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) to Present at Deutsche  -  ‎Dec 10, 2009‎
The Company's commercial stage products include REVLIMID, THALOMID (inclusive of Thalidomide Pharmion), VIDAZA, ALKERAN and FOCALIN. On March 7, 2008, ... TransWorldNews (press release)

Revlimid May Set “New Standardâ€? For Treating Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma ...  -  ‎Dec 15, 2009‎
In this study, researchers compared a combination regimen of melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and Revlimid (a regimen known as MPR) with a regimen of ... The Myeloma Beacon

Celgene Corp. Reports Operating Results (10-Q)  -  ‎Oct 30, 2009‎
...due to the inclusion of residual payments earned by us based upon GSK's ALKERAN® revenues subsequent to the conclusion of the ALKERAN® license with GSK. ... GuruFocus.com

Multiple Myeloma Study Finds “Complete Responseâ€? Is Generally Correlated With ...  -  ‎Oct 20, 2009‎
In newly diagnosed patients, the authors noted that a combination of melphalan (Alkeran), prednisone, and thalidomide yielded higher response rates and ... The Myeloma Beacon

Treatment Trends For Multiple Myeloma – Part 1: Autologous Stem Cell Transplants  -  ‎Nov 3, 2009‎
A group of researchers in France found that Velcade and high-dose melphalan (Alkeran) make for a “safe and highly effective� preparatory treatment in a ... The Myeloma Beacon

Brand Names/Synonyms:
Alkeran is also known by the following brand names and/or synonyms3025 C. B.; ALKERAN; AT-290; Alkeran; CB 3025; L-PAM; L-Phenylalanine Mustard; L-Sarcolysin; L-Sarcolysine; L-Sarkolysin; Levofalan; Melfalan; Melphalan; Mephalan; NSC 8806; NSC-8806; Phenylalanine Mustard; Phenylalanine Nitrogen Mustard; Sarcolysine; Sarkolysin

Drug Category:
Alkeran is categorized under the following by the FDA: Antineoplastic Agents; ATC:L01AA03

Dosage Forms:
tablets, injection

Absorption:
incomplete, variable, 25-89% post oral dose

Interactions:
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Chemical IUPAC Name:
2-amino-3-[4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]phenyl]-propanoicacid





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