Is a chemotherapeutic agent.
It is a quinone antibiotic with anti-tumor properties.
Primarily, it acts as an alkylating agent and inhibits DNA synthesis in tumor cells.
Mitomycin C is a potent DNA crosslinker, accomplished by reductive activation of mitomycin to form a mitosene, which reacts successively via N-alkylation of two DNA bases.
It also generates free radicals that damage DNA and proteins through lipid peroxidation, inhibits cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis in tumor cells.
It is a potent DNA crosslinker, accomplished by reductive activation of mitomycin to form a mitosene, which reacts successively via N-alkylation of two DNA bases.
It is given intravenously to treat upper gastro-intestinal cancers, esophageal carcinoma, anal cancers, and breast cancers, as well as by bladder instillation for superficial bladder tumors.
It causes delayed bone marrow toxicity, and it’s prolonged use may result in permanent bone-marrow damage.
It may also cause lung fibrosis and renal damage.
Pregnancy category US: D (Evidence of risk).
Metabolism-Hepatic
Elimination half-life 8–48 min
Can be used topically rather than intravenously, particularly in bladder cancers and intraperitoneal tumors.
In eye surgery mitomycin C 0.02% is applied topically to prevent scarring during glaucoma filtering surgery and to prevent haze after PRK or LASIK.
It reduces fibrosis in strabismus surgery.
In esophageal and tracheal stenosis the application of mitomycin C onto the mucosa immediately following dilatation will decrease re-stenosis decreases the production of fibroblasts and scar tissue.