Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A toxic antimetabolite, C20H22N8O5, that acts as a folic acid antagonist to interfere with cellular reproduction and is used to treat psoriasis, certain cancers, and some inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun medicine An antimetabolite and antifolate drug used in treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun toxic antimetabolite that limits cellular reproduction by acting as an antagonist to folic acid; used to treat certain cancers and psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[methotre- (probably shortening and alteration of methylaminopterin, one of its chemical names : methyl + aminopterin) + perhaps (o)x(y)– + –ate.]

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Examples

  • An intravenous IV infusion of a medication called methotrexate may be used to abort the pregnancy or may be combined with surgery to ensure the full removal of pregnancy tissues.

    Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn Penny Simkin 2010

  • An intravenous IV infusion of a medication called methotrexate may be used to abort the pregnancy or may be combined with surgery to ensure the full removal of pregnancy tissues.

    Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn Penny Simkin 2010

  • I had to terminate an ectopic pregnancy using methotrexate, which is the lowest risk way to treat the condition but that some misogynist in the Catholic church has declared to be impermissible abortion.

    The Volokh Conspiracy » Abortion: Murder or Tragedy? Are Those the Only Options? 2009

  • Another drug, called methotrexate, can also be used with misoprostol, but it works slightly differently, halting the ongoing process of implantation, and is usually administered via injection.

    OUR BODIES, OURSELVES The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective 2005

  • Valerie Jensen, associate director of the Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage program, said her team is working with the three makers of preservative-free methotrexate, which is used to treat the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2012

  • The cancer groups urged the drug-makers to "take all necessary steps to rapidly increase access" to the preservative-free version of methotrexate, which is needed for children because the preservatives can be dangerous for them.

    WalesOnline - Home WalesOnline 2012

  • Once a death sentence, this deadly disease can now be cured for 80 to 90 percent of those afflicted thanks to an injectable drug called methotrexate.

    Forbes.com: News Rick Ungar 2012

  • Until late last year, five drugmakers in the U.S. manufactured the generic injected cancer medicine methotrexate, which is crucial for treating children and adults with ALL as well as children with other, less-common cancers.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2012

  • The new drug from BTG International Inc. breaks up a chemotherapy drug called methotrexate so that it can be eliminated from the body.

    The Seattle Times 2012

  • Until late last year, five drugmakers in the U.S. manufactured the generic injected cancer medicine methotrexate, which is crucial for treating children and adults with ALL as well as children with other, less-common cancers.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2012

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