An older alkylating chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia
Mitobronitol
An old chemotherapy medicine, now obsolete, once used to control chronic myeloid leukaemia.
What is Mitobronitol?
Mitobronitol is an old alkylating chemotherapy medicine that was taken by mouth to control chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. Like other chemotherapy of its kind, its dominant risk is bone-marrow suppression, meaning it lowers the blood cells the body needs, which can lead to infections, bleeding and tiredness. It is now obsolete and has been replaced by far more effective and targeted modern treatments, so it is of mainly historical interest in the UK.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Mitobronitol — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Mitobronitol is a chemotherapy medicine of the alkylating type, meaning it damages the genetic material inside cells to stop them multiplying. It was used in the past to control chronic myeloid leukaemia, a blood cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells. It was taken by mouth. It is now an obsolete treatment that has been superseded by modern medicines, particularly targeted drugs, which are much more effective and better tolerated, so mitobronitol is essentially of historical interest today.
How it works
As an alkylating agent, mitobronitol attaches chemical groups to the DNA inside cells, damaging it so the cells can no longer divide and grow. In chronic myeloid leukaemia this slows the overproduction of abnormal white blood cells, helping to bring the disease under control. However, because it acts on rapidly dividing cells in general, it also affects healthy bone marrow, which is why it lowers normal blood cells. This non-selective action is one reason it has been replaced by targeted treatments that focus more precisely on the cancer.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Generic (obsolete).
An old chemotherapy medicine, no longer in routine use, that was given by mouth to control a type of blood cancer called chronic myeloid leukaemia.
Practical use
How to take Mitobronitol
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It was taken by mouth exactly as directed by the specialist cancer team.
- Regular blood tests are essential to watch the bone marrow and blood counts.
- Report signs of infection, such as fever, or any unusual bruising or bleeding, straight away.
- Tell the team about all other medicines, as chemotherapy can interact with many of them.
- Use only under close specialist supervision; it is now an obsolete treatment replaced by modern medicines.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Mitobronitol
Advantages
- Could be taken by mouth, avoiding injections, when it was in use.
- Helped control chronic myeloid leukaemia in an era before modern targeted treatments.
- Part of a long-established class of cancer medicines that paved the way for later treatments.
Disadvantages
- Suppresses the bone marrow, lowering blood cells and raising the risk of infection, bleeding and tiredness.
- Alkylating chemotherapy can carry a long-term risk of causing other cancers.
- Now obsolete, having been replaced by far more effective and better-tolerated modern treatments.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important thing to understand about mitobronitol is that, like other chemotherapy of its type, it suppresses the bone marrow, which makes the blood cells that fight infection, carry oxygen and help clotting. This means it can cause low blood counts, leading to infections, unusual bruising or bleeding, and tiredness, so regular blood tests are essential. Alkylating chemotherapy in general can also carry a long-term risk of causing other cancers. Because the medicine is now obsolete and far better treatments exist, you would not expect to be offered it today; it is described here for completeness. Any chemotherapy of this kind is only ever used under close specialist supervision with careful monitoring.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to it should not take it.
- It is unsuitable for people whose bone marrow is already severely suppressed.
- It is avoided in pregnancy because chemotherapy of this kind can harm an unborn baby.
Monitoring
- Regular blood counts to watch for bone-marrow suppression.
- Watching for signs of infection, bruising or bleeding.
- Reviewing how the leukaemia responds to treatment over time.
Side effects
- A drop in blood cells (bone-marrow suppression), causing infections, bruising, bleeding or tiredness.
- Nausea or other stomach upset.
- A long-term risk, with alkylating chemotherapy, of developing other cancers.
- Effects on fertility, which the specialist team would discuss before treatment.
Key interactions
- It can add to the bone-marrow-lowering effect of other chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- Live vaccines are generally avoided during treatment because the immune system is weakened.
- Tell the team about all medicines, as chemotherapy can interact with many of them.
Available as: Tablets taken by mouth (historical).
Answers
Mitobronitol: frequently asked questions
What was mitobronitol used for?
It was an old alkylating chemotherapy taken by mouth to control chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. It is now obsolete.
Why does it lower blood counts?
Like other chemotherapy of its kind, it affects rapidly dividing cells in the bone marrow, which makes blood cells, so it can cause low counts and a risk of infection, bleeding and tiredness.
Is it still used?
No. It has been replaced by far more effective and better-tolerated modern treatments, particularly targeted medicines, so it is essentially of historical interest.
Does it have long-term risks?
Alkylating chemotherapy in general can carry a long-term risk of causing other cancers, which is one reason newer treatments are now preferred.
How was it taken?
It was taken by mouth as tablets, under the close supervision of a specialist cancer team with regular blood tests.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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