207_Combined course Presentations

The ’90s… advent of TMZ has changed the paradigm



Oral alkylating agent

 Rapidly and completely adsorbed after oral administration

 Spontaneous conversion into the active metabolite without the need for liver demethylation (Advantage over dacarbazine)

 Excellent penetration into all body tissues, including the brain

 Mechanism of resistance to TMZ is mediated through O 6 -methylguanine- DNA methyltransferase ( MGMT ). Many brain tumors express low concentrations of this enzyme .

Newlands ES. et al. Canc Treat Rev 1997;23