Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide in the glossary for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

An immunosuppressive alkylating agent (chemotherapy).

Cyclophosphamide (also known as cytophosphane) used as a chemotherapeutic¹ and immunosuppressive agent. ² As chemotherapy, it is used to treat a range of cancers, including lymphoma, multiple myeloma, leukemia, breast cancer and small cell lung cancer. As an effective immunosuppressive agent, cyclophosphamide multiple studies have found cyclophosphamide useful in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Cyclophosphamide has also been prescribed pretransplant as an immunosuppressant to prevent transplant rejection and graft-vs-hostcomplications.¹ It is administered orally or intravenously. Cyclophosphamide is in the alkylating agent and nitrogen mustard family of medications and exerts its effect by interfering with the synthesis of RNA and the duplication of DNA.¹ Cyclophosphamide was approved for medical use in the United States (US) in 1959. ². Cyclophosphamide is authorized for use in the EU.³

Glossary overview

References

1.Ogino MH, Tadi P. Cyclophosphamide in StatPearls. Updated September 2021. StatPearls Publishing, Treasure Island (FL).

2.Emadi A, Jones RJ and Brodsky RA. Cyclophosphamide and cancer: golden anniversary. Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol 2009: 6;638–647.

3.Cyclophosphamide SmPC. Available from; https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/3526/smpc#gref. Accessed November 12th, 2021.

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