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Hydroxyurea


Mechanism of action:

Hydroxyurea is a ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor. Hydroxyurea inhibits the activity of ribonucleotide reductase, preventing the production of deoxyribonucleotides and thereby blocking DNA replication, which suppresses the proliferation of tumor cells. Hydroxyurea can also increase the expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). Because HbF is less likely to form sickled structures, it can reduce red blood cell deformation, hemolysis, and vascular occlusion.

Reference(s):

1. Ferrari A et al. (2019). Clinical outcomes under hydroxyurea treatment in polycythemia vera: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Haematologica. 


2. Cortelazzo S et al. (1995). Hydroxyurea for patients with essential thrombocythemia and a high risk of thrombosis. N Engl J Med. 


3. Kim MS et al. (2012). Long-term follow-up result of hydroxyurea chemotherapy for recurrent meningiomas. J Korean Neurosurg Soc.

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