CancerQuest >> Cancer Treatments >> Chemotherapy

6-Mercaptopurine

Drug Discovery
In 1942 George Hitchings set out to develop a treatment for cancer. He wanted to create chemicals that were similar enough to normal nucleotides to be used in cells but different enough to interfere with DNA synthesis. Gertrude Elion joined Hitchings in his quest in 1944. By 1951 she was producing numerous chemicals that resembled normal purines, some of which prevented cell division. These chemotherapy drugs were first tested on leukemia patients, mainly because there was no effective treatment for this type of cancer at the time. 6-mercaptopurine, the antimetabolite drug they created, induced remissions in childhood leukemia cases, and did so without severely harming normal cells. The FDA approved it for widespread use only 10 weeks later, in 1953.

Drug Usage
The purine antagonist 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP,brand names:Purinethol®, Puri-Nethol®.) has been used as a chemotherapy drug for over 30 years. The drug is usually given orally. When higher doses are required, the drug may be given through an IV. Patients suffering from acute lymphocytic or myelocytic leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia (especially in childhood cases) and acute myelogenous and myelomonocytic leukemias are often given 6-MP (Purinethol®, Puri-Nethol®) in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. In addition to its role in cancer treatment, 6-MP (Purinethol®, Puri-Nethol®) is used to treat patients suffering from a variety of inflammatory bowel diseases. The drug is also used to prevent rejection following organ transplants.

Adverse Effects

• Low blood counts
• Mouth sores
• Skin rash/acne
• Mild nausea
• Abnormal liver function

Side effects are rare in children.

Search for current clinical trials involving 6-mercaptopurine.