Mitomycins
Mitomycins are a family of aziridine-containing natural products that have potent antibiotic and antineoplastic properties. They are produced by certain strains of the bacterium Streptomyces. The most well-known member of this family is Mitomycin C, which is used as a chemotherapy agent in the treatment of various types of cancer.
History[edit | edit source]
Mitomycins were first discovered in the 1950s in the culture broth of Streptomyces caespitosus and Streptomyces lavendulae. The discovery of these compounds marked a significant milestone in the field of natural product chemistry and pharmacology.
Structure and Properties[edit | edit source]
Mitomycins are characterized by a core structure that consists of a quinone moiety and two aziridine rings. The quinone moiety is responsible for the compound's red color and its ability to undergo redox reactions. The aziridine rings, on the other hand, are responsible for the compound's cytotoxicity.
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
Mitomycins exert their antineoplastic effects by cross-linking DNA, thereby preventing DNA replication and transcription. This leads to cell death and the shrinkage of tumors. The exact mechanism by which mitomycins cross-link DNA is still a subject of ongoing research.
Clinical Use[edit | edit source]
Mitomycin C, the most well-known member of the mitomycin family, is used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bladder cancer. It is usually administered intravenously.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
Like all chemotherapy agents, mitomycins can cause a number of side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and bone marrow suppression. Patients receiving mitomycin C are closely monitored for these and other potential side effects.
Future Directions[edit | edit source]
Research is ongoing to develop new mitomycin derivatives with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. In addition, studies are being conducted to better understand the mechanism of action of mitomycins and to identify potential new targets for these compounds.
| Mitomycins Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
