mechlorethamine

[ me-klawr-eth-uh-meen, -klohr- ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a nitrogen mustard, C 5 H 1 1 Cl 2 N, used in combination with other drugs in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease and certain other cancers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mechlorethamine¹

me(thyl) + chlor- ² + eth(yl) + amine

Example Sentences

One study reported in an issue of The New England Journal of Medicine last December found that children with Hodgkin’s disease were at greater risk of relapse because the most effective generic, mechlorethamine, wasn’t available.

From New York Times

It focused on mechlorethamine, or nitrogen mustard, a drug that has been in short supply until last month, when more became available.

From Seattle Times