Porfiromycin

Porfiromycin is a chemotherapeutic agent that belongs to the class of antibiotics known as mitomycins. It was first isolated from the bacterium Streptomyces verticillus and has been studied for its potential use in the treatment of various types of cancer.

History

Porfiromycin was first discovered in the 1960s during a screening of soil samples for new antibiotics. The bacterium Streptomyces verticillus was found to produce a compound with potent antitumor activity, which was named porfiromycin.

Mechanism of Action

Porfiromycin exerts its antitumor effects by cross-linking DNA, which prevents the DNA from being properly replicated. This leads to cell death and the shrinkage of tumors. The drug is activated by enzymes in the absence of oxygen, which makes it particularly effective against hypoxic tumor cells that are resistant to other forms of treatment.

Clinical Use

Porfiromycin has been studied in clinical trials for the treatment of various types of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, its use has been limited by its toxicity, particularly to the liver and kidneys.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of porfiromycin include nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. More serious side effects can include liver and kidney damage, anemia, and a decrease in white blood cell count, which can lead to an increased risk of infection.

Future Research

Despite its toxicity, porfiromycin continues to be studied for its potential use in cancer treatment. Researchers are investigating ways to reduce its side effects, such as by developing new formulations or delivery methods, or by combining it with other drugs. Template:Chemotherapy-stub

• Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? WikiMD's DocFinder can help with millions of doctors!

This article is a stub. Help WikiMD grow by registering to expand it. Editing is available only to registered and verified users. About WikiMD: A comprehensive, free health & wellness encyclopedia.

‎ ‎

---

Translate: - 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