Mechlorethamine (1.5 mg/kg i.v.) lowers the mean leukocyte count from 6,320 mm3 to 1,890 mm3, while leaving the leukocyte differential and erythrocyte and platelet counts unchanged in rabbits. he mouse develops dose-dependent skin ulcers when given methlorethamine (0.005 mg–0.5 mg, i.d.). The mean HN2 ulceration area and the total ulceration time are significantly decreased when isotonic sodium thiosulfate (0.167 M) or hypertonic (0.34 M) (0.05 mL) is administered immediately after methlorethamine.

Absorption, Distribution and Excretion
Following IV injection, the drug undergoes rapid chemical transformation and unchanged mechlorethamine is undetectable in the blood within a few minutes. Less than 0.01% of an IV dose is excreted unchanged in the urine.
Mice given 35 mg/kg body wt mechlorethamine hydrochloride iv and examined by autoradiography had significant levels of compound in brain, spinal cord, lung and submaxillary glands.
Mechlorethamine is incompletely absorbed following intracavitary administration, probably because of rapid deactivation by body fluids.

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Metabolism / Metabolites
Following its in vivo admin, mechlorethamine or its hydrochloride is probably converted into ethyleneimmonium ion which reacts with guanine residues in /either the same or/ adjacent strands of DNA as well as with SH groups.

Effects During Pregnancy and Lactation
◉ Summary of Use during Lactation
Most sources consider that mothers receiving antineoplastic therapy should not breastfeed, especially with alkylating agents such as mechlorethamine. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant, breastfeeding from mechlorethamine mothers should not breastfed during therapy with mechlorethamine therapy, including topical application.
◉ Effects in Breastfed Infants
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
◉ Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

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Interactions
Morphine and pethidine hydrochloride significantly potentiated mechlorethamine hydrochloride toxicity. The potentiation seems dose related. Morphine converted sublethal doses of mechlorethamine to maximal LD's.
In HT29 human colon carcinoma cells, amphotericin b (approx 120 ug/ml) increased uptake of mechlorethamine hydrochloride due to increases in vmax without change in km.
Mechlorethamine may raise the concentration of blood uric acid; dosage adjustment of antigout agents may be necessary to control hyperuricemia and gout; allopurinol may be preferred to prevent or reverse mechlorethamine-induced hyperuricemia because of risk of uric acid nephropathy with uricosuric antigout agents.
Leukopenic and/or thrombocytopenic effects of mechlorethamine may be increased with concurrent or recent therapy /with blood dyscrasia-causing medications/ if these medications cause the same effects; dosage adjustment of mechlorethamine, if necessary, should be based on blood counts.
For more Interactions (Complete) data for MECHLORETHAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

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Non-Human Toxicity Values
LD50 Rat iv 1.1 mg/kg
LD50 Rat sc 1.9 mg/kg

[1]. Effect of brentuximab vedotin combined with chlormethine hydrochloride on the treatment of 6 patients with relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Zhonghua Xue Ye Xue Za Zhi. 2015 Jul 14;36(7):575-577.

Nitrogen Mustard Hydrochloride (Mechlorethamine Hydrochloride) can cause cancer according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts. It can cause developmental toxicity according to state or federal government labeling requirements.
Nitrogen mustard hydrochloride appears as white to off-white crystals or powder with a fishy odor. Initial pH (2% aqueous solution) 3.0-4.0. (NTP, 1992)
Mechlorethamine hydrochloride is the hydrochloride salt of mechlorethamine. It has a role as an antineoplastic agent. It contains a mechlorethamine.
Mechlorethamine Hydrochloride is the hydrochloride salt of mechlorethamine, a nitrogen mustard and an analogue of sulfur mustard, with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive activities. Mechlorethamine is metabolized to an unstable, highly reactive ethyleniminium intermediate that alkylates DNA, particularly the 7 nitrogen of guanine residues, resulting in DNA base pair mismatching, DNA interstrand crosslinking, the inhibition of DNA repair and synthesis, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis. This agent also exhibits lympholytic properties.
A biologic alkylating agent that exerts its cytotoxic effects by forming DNA ADDUCTS and DNA interstrand crosslinks, thereby inhibiting rapidly proliferating cells. The hydrochloride is an antineoplastic agent used to treat HODGKIN DISEASE and LYMPHOMA.

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Mechanism of Action
Mechlorethamine, as an alkylating agent, interferes with DNA replication and transcription of RNA and ultimately results in the disruption of nucleic acid function. Mechlorethamine also possesses weak immunosuppressive activity.
Mechlorethamine, as an alkylating agent, interferes with DNA replication and transcription of RNA, and ultimately results in the disruption of nucleic acid function.

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Therapeutic Uses
Alkylating Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating;
Antineoplastic
VET: Antineoplastic
MEDICATION (VET): ... MECHLORETHAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE IS REPORTED TO BE USED FOR TREATMENT OF LYMPHOSARCOMA & OF MAST CELL SARCOMA IN DOGS & OF FOWL LEUKOSIS ... /MECHLORETHAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE/
For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for MECHLORETHAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE (11 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

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Drug Warnings
Adverse CNS effects which have occurred following IV administration of mechlorethamine include weakness, headache, drowsiness, vertigo, lightheadedness, convulsions, progressive muscle paralysis, paresthesia, cerebral degeneration, coma, and death. Serious neurotoxicity appears to be a problem only when high doses or intra-arterial and regional perfusion administration techniques are used. Immediate and delayed neurotoxicity, sometimes severe, has been reported in patients receiving higher than recommended doses of the drug in preparation for bone marrow transplantation; neurotoxicity appeared to increase with age and dose administered and occurred more frequently in patients who also received procarbazine or cyclophosphamide.
Adverse dermatologic effects of systemic mechlorethamine therapy occasionally include a maculopapular skin eruption which is apparently idiosyncratic. The maculopapular skin eruption does not necessarily recur with subsequent doses and is not a contraindication to future use of the drug. Erythema multiforme also has been reported. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, have been reported in patients receiving IV mechlorethamine. ... Herpes zoster, which occurs commonly in patients with lymphoma, may be precipitated by treatment with mechlorethamine.
Major and dose-limiting adverse effects of mechlorethamine are nausea and vomiting, which occur in up to 90% of patients who receive the drug and are presumably due to CNS stimulation.Vomiting, which may be severe enough to precipitate vascular accidents in patients with hemorrhagic tendencies, occurs within 0.5-8 hours (usually 1-3 hours) after administration of mechlorethamine. Emesis generally subsides within 8 hours, but nausea may persist 24 hours or longer. ... Other GI effects of mechlorethamine include anorexia, diarrhea, severe hematemesis and dehydration secondary to vomiting, and rarely, peptic ulcers.
Mechlorethamine must be used with extreme caution in patients with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or anemia caused by infiltration of bone marrow with malignant cells. In these patients, a good response to mechlorethamine therapy with disappearance of tumor from the bone marrow may be associated with improved bone marrow function; however, in the absence of good response or in patients who have received previous treatment with antineoplastic agents, hematopoiesis may be further compromised, resulting in more severe leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and possibly death. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia appear to be especially sensitive to the hematopoietic effects of mechlorethamine and should receive the drug with extreme caution, if at all.
For more Drug Warnings (Complete) data for MECHLORETHAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE (17 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

C5H11CL2N.HCL

192.51

191.003

C, 31.19; H, 6.28; Cl, 55.25; N, 7.28

55-86-7

51-75-2 55-86-7 (HCl)

5935

Hygroscopic leaflets from acetone or chloroform
White hygroscopic crystals
White, crystalline, hygroscopic powder

1.106g/cm3

110.3ºC at 760 mmHg

108-111 °C(lit.)

20.5ºC

1.4689 (24ºC)

2.197

1

1

4

9

43.7

0

ClC([H])([H])C([H])([H])N(C([H])([H])[H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])Cl.Cl[H]

QZIQJVCYUQZDIR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

InChI=1S/C5H11Cl2N.ClH/c1-8(4-2-6)5-3-7;/h2-5H2,1H3;1H

2-chloro-N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-methylethanamine;hydrochloride

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Note: Please store this product in a sealed and protected environment, avoid exposure to moisture.

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.08 mg/mL (10.80 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 2: ≥ 2.08 mg/mL (10.80 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly.
Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.

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Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 2.08 mg/mL (10.80 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.

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Solubility in Formulation 4: 100 mg/mL (519.45 mM) in PBS (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution; with ultrasonication.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)