busulfan

[ byoo-suhl-fuhn ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a potent cytotoxic substance, C 6 H 14 O 6 S 2 , used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of busulfan¹

1955–60; bu(tanediol dimethane) sulf(onate) its chemical name + -an perhaps originally variant of -ane

Example Sentences

But there is also the likelihood that both cancers were caused by a powerful drug, busulfan, which is used to clear bone marrow in order to make space for new cells modified by gene therapy.

From New York Times

Busulfan is known to confer a blood cancer risk, Dr. Tisdale noted.

From New York Times

If not, then busulfan is the likely culprit.

From New York Times

An examination found it was caused by busulfan.

From New York Times

Before the cells are replaced, participants are typically treated with a chemotherapy called busulfan to destroy the remaining diseased stem cells and help the reintroduced, genetically altered cells to take over.

From Nature