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NCI Drug Dictionary

mercaptopurine
A thiopurine-derivative antimetabolite with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Produced through the metabolism of mercaptopurine by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), mercaptopurine metabolites 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thioGMP) and 6-thioinosine (T-IMP) inhibit nucleotide interconversions and de novo purine synthesis, thereby blocking the formation of purine nucleotides and inhibiting DNA synthesis. This agent is also incorporated into DNA in the form of deoxythioguanosine, which results in the disruption of DNA replication. In addition, mercaptopurine is converted to 6-methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MMPR) by 6-thiopurine methyltransferase; MMPRs are also potent inhibitors of de novo purine synthesis. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)

Synonyms:6 Thiohypoxanthine
6 Thiopurine
6-mercaptopurine
6-Mercaptopurine Monohydrate
6-Purinethiol
6-Thiopurine
6-Thioxopurine
Azathiopurine
Leupurin
Mercapurin
Mern
Purimethol
US brand names:Mercaptopurinum
Purinethol
Foreign brand names:Alti-Mercaptopurine
Flocofil
Ismipur
Leukerin
Mercaleukim
Mercaptina
Purinethiol
Puri-Nethol
Abbreviations:6-MP
MP
Code names:BW 57-323H
U-4748
WR-2785
Chemical structure names:
  • 1,7-Dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione
  • 1,7-Dihydro-6H-purine-6-thione Monohydrate
  • 3H-Purine-6-thiol
  • 6H-Purine-6-thione, 1,7-dihydro- (9CI)
  • 7-Mercapto-1,3,4,6-tetrazaindene
  • Mercapto-6-purine
  • Purine-6-thiol (8CI)
  • Purine-6-thiol Monohydrate
  • Purine-6-thiol, Monohydrate

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