antimetabolite

Other forms: antimetabolites

Definitions of antimetabolite

1. noun

   an antineoplastic drug that inhibits the utilization of a metabolite
   types:

   fluorouracil

   an antimetabolite used to treat certain cancers

   Purinethol, mercaptopurine

   a drug (trade name Purinethol) that interferes with the metabolism of purine and is used to treat acute lymphocytic leukemia

   amethopterin, methotrexate, methotrexate sodium

   toxic antimetabolite that limits cellular reproduction by acting as an antagonist to folic acid; used to treat certain cancers and psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis

   type of:

   antineoplastic, antineoplastic drug, cancer drug

   any of several drugs that control or kill neoplastic cells; used in chemotherapy to kill cancer cells; all have unpleasant side effects that may include nausea and vomiting and hair loss and suppression of bone marrow function