Amethopterin (Noun)
Meaning
Toxic antimetabolite that limits cellular reproduction by acting as an antagonist to folic acid; used to treat certain cancers and psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- Amethopterin is a potent antimetabolite that inhibits the growth of rapidly dividing cells, making it a valuable tool in the treatment of certain cancers.
- The patient was prescribed amethopterin to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but had to be closely monitored for signs of toxicity.
- Research has shown that amethopterin can be effective in treating severe cases of psoriasis, particularly those that are resistant to other treatments.
- Amethopterin works by competitively inhibiting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which is necessary for the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate and thus limits cellular reproduction.
- Due to its potential toxicity, amethopterin is typically used as a last resort in the treatment of certain cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma.