Article: Mitomycin

Mitomycin
Systematic (IUPAC) name
6-Amino-1,1a,2,8,8a,8b-hexahydro-8- (hydroxymethyl)- 8a-methoxy-5-methyl-azirino[2', 3':3,4] pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole-4,7-dione carbamate (ester)
Identifiers
CAS number	50-07-7
ATC code	L01DC03
PubChem	5746
DrugBank	APRD00284
Chemical data
Formula	C15H18N4O5
Mol. weight	334.327 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	Hepatic
Half life	8-48 min
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	D (Au, U.S.)
Legal status	℞-only (U.S.), POM (UK)
Routes	Exclusively intravenous

The mitomycins are a family of aziridine-containing natural products isolated from Streptomyces lavendulae. One of these compounds, mitomycin C, finds use as a chemotherapeutic agent by virtue of its antitumour antibiotic activity. It is given intravenously to treat upper gastro-intestinal (e.g. esophageal carcinoma) and breast cancers, as well as by bladder instillation for superficial bladder tumours. It causes delayed bone marrow toxicity and therefore it is usually administered at 6-weekly intervals. Prolonged use may result in permanent bone-marrow damage. It may also cause lung fibrosis and renal damage.