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Chlorambucil (marketed as Leukeran by GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline plc is a United Kingdom-based pharmaceutical industry, biological, and healthcare company. GSK is the world's second largest pharmaceutical company and a research-based company with a wide portfolio of pharmaceutical products covering anti-infectives, central nervous system, respiratory, gastro-intestinal/metabolic,...
) is a chemotherapy
Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kill cells, specifically those of micro-organisms or cancer....
 drug that has been mainly used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia , is a type of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells . CLL affects a particular lymphocyte, the B cell, which originates in the bone marrow, develops in the lymph nodes, and normally fights infection....
. It is a nitrogen mustard
Nitrogen mustard

The nitrogen mustards are cytotoxic chemotherapy agents similar to mustard gas. Although their common use is medicinal, in principle these compounds may also be used for chemical warfare purposes....
 alkylating agent
Alkylating antineoplastic agent

An alkylating antineoplastic agent is an alkylating agent that attaches an alkyl group to DNA.Since cancer cells generally proliferate unrestrictively more than healthy cells do, cancer cells are more sensitive to DNA damage - such as being alkylated....
 and can be given orally.

In the past, chlorambucil has been used for treating some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of hematological malignancy which encompass any lymphoma other than Hodgkin lymphoma.Lymphoma is a type of cancer derived from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell....
, Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia is cancer involving a subtype of white blood cells called lymphocytes. The main attributing antibody is IgM. It is a type of lymphoproliferative disease, and shares clinical characteristics with the indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas....
, polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera

Primary polycythemia, often called polycythemia vera , polycythemia rubra vera , or erythremia, occurs when excess red blood cells are produced as a result of an abnormality of the bone marrow and occasionally in the kidneys....
, trophoblastic neoplasms
Trophoblastic neoplasms

Trophoblastic neoplasms are neoplasms which derive from trophoblastic tissue.Examples include:* choriocarcinoma* hydatidiform mole...
, and ovarian carcinoma. It also has been used as an immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drug

Immunosuppressive drugs or immunosuppressive agents are medication that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. They are used in immunosuppression to:...
 for various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is a nonspecific disorder in which the kidneys are damaged, causing them to leak large amounts of protein from the blood into the urine....
. Its current use is mainly in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, as it is well tolerated by most patients, though chlorambucil has been largely replaced by fludarabine
Fludarabine

Fludarabine is a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of hematological malignancy....
 as first-line treatment in younger patients.

marrow suppression (anemia
Anemia

Anemia or an?mia/anaemia is defined as a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of hemoglobin, a protein found inside red blood cells ....
, neutropenia
Neutropenia

Neutropenia , from Latin language prefix neutro- and Greek language suffix -pe??a is a Hematology disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil....
, thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood.Generally speaking, in humans, a normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 and 450,000 per mm3....
) is the most commonly occurring side effect of chlorambucil.






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Chlorambucil (marketed as Leukeran by GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline plc is a United Kingdom-based pharmaceutical industry, biological, and healthcare company. GSK is the world's second largest pharmaceutical company and a research-based company with a wide portfolio of pharmaceutical products covering anti-infectives, central nervous system, respiratory, gastro-intestinal/metabolic,...
) is a chemotherapy
Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, in its most general sense, refers to treatment of disease by chemicals that kill cells, specifically those of micro-organisms or cancer....
 drug that has been mainly used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia , is a type of leukemia, or cancer of the white blood cells . CLL affects a particular lymphocyte, the B cell, which originates in the bone marrow, develops in the lymph nodes, and normally fights infection....
. It is a nitrogen mustard
Nitrogen mustard

The nitrogen mustards are cytotoxic chemotherapy agents similar to mustard gas. Although their common use is medicinal, in principle these compounds may also be used for chemical warfare purposes....
 alkylating agent
Alkylating antineoplastic agent

An alkylating antineoplastic agent is an alkylating agent that attaches an alkyl group to DNA.Since cancer cells generally proliferate unrestrictively more than healthy cells do, cancer cells are more sensitive to DNA damage - such as being alkylated....
 and can be given orally.

In the past, chlorambucil has been used for treating some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of hematological malignancy which encompass any lymphoma other than Hodgkin lymphoma.Lymphoma is a type of cancer derived from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell....
, Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia is cancer involving a subtype of white blood cells called lymphocytes. The main attributing antibody is IgM. It is a type of lymphoproliferative disease, and shares clinical characteristics with the indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas....
, polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera

Primary polycythemia, often called polycythemia vera , polycythemia rubra vera , or erythremia, occurs when excess red blood cells are produced as a result of an abnormality of the bone marrow and occasionally in the kidneys....
, trophoblastic neoplasms
Trophoblastic neoplasms

Trophoblastic neoplasms are neoplasms which derive from trophoblastic tissue.Examples include:* choriocarcinoma* hydatidiform mole...
, and ovarian carcinoma. It also has been used as an immunosuppressive drug
Immunosuppressive drug

Immunosuppressive drugs or immunosuppressive agents are medication that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. They are used in immunosuppression to:...
 for various autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is a nonspecific disorder in which the kidneys are damaged, causing them to leak large amounts of protein from the blood into the urine....
. Its current use is mainly in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, as it is well tolerated by most patients, though chlorambucil has been largely replaced by fludarabine
Fludarabine

Fludarabine is a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of hematological malignancy....
 as first-line treatment in younger patients.

Side Effects

Bone marrow suppression (anemia
Anemia

Anemia or an?mia/anaemia is defined as a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of hemoglobin, a protein found inside red blood cells ....
, neutropenia
Neutropenia

Neutropenia , from Latin language prefix neutro- and Greek language suffix -pe??a is a Hematology disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of a type of white blood cell called a neutrophil....
, thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia is the presence of relatively few platelets in blood.Generally speaking, in humans, a normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 and 450,000 per mm3....
) is the most commonly occurring side effect of chlorambucil. Withdrawn from the drug, this side effect is typically reversible. Like many alkylating agents, chlorambucil has been associated with the development of other forms of cancer.

Less commonly occurring side effects include:
  • Gastrointestinal Distress (nausea
    Nausea

    Nausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit....
    , vomiting
    Vomiting

    Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Undesired vomiting may result from many causes, ranging from gastritis or poisoning to brain tumors, or elevated intracranial pressure....
    , diarrhea
    Diarrhea

    In medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea , is characterized by frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. The spelling of "diarrhea" is an appropriation of the Greek "diarrhoia" meaning "a flowing through." ....
    , and oral ulcerations).
  • Central Nervous System
    Central nervous system

    The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that functions to coordinate the activity of all parts of the bodies of multicellular organisms....
    : Seizures, tremors, muscular twitching, confusion, agitation, ataxia
    Ataxia

    Ataxia is a neurology sign and symptom consisting of gross lack of coordination of muscle movements. Ataxia is a non-specific clinical manifestation implying dysfunction of parts of the nervous system that coordinate movement, such as the cerebellum....
    , and hallucinations.
  • Skin reactions
  • Hepatotoxicity
    Hepatotoxicity

    Hepatotoxicity implies chemical-driven liver damage. The liver plays a central role in transforming and clearing chemicals and is susceptible to the toxicity from these agents....
  • Infertility


External links

  • (manufacturer's website)
  • (patient information)