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NCI Drug Dictionary

melphalan
An orally available phenylalanine derivative of nitrogen mustard with antineoplastic activity. Melphalan alkylates DNA at the N7 position of guanine and induces DNA inter-strand cross-linkages, resulting in the inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis and cytotoxicity against both dividing and non-dividing tumor cells. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

Synonyms:alanine nitrogen mustard
L-phenylalanine mustard
L-Sarcolysin
L-sarcolysin phenylalanine mustard
L-sarcolysine
phenylalanine mustard
phenylalanine nitrogen mustard
US brand name:Alkeran
Foreign brand names:Alkerana
Melfalan
Melphalanum
Sarkolysin
Abbreviation:L-PAM
Code names:CB-3025
WR-19813
Chemical structure names:
  • 4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-L-phenylalanine
  • p-di(chloroethyl)amino-L-phenylalanine

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