A drug used to help protect the kidneys in patients receiving cisplatin (a type of anticancer drug) for advanced ovarian cancer. It is also used to help reduce dry mouth in patients receiving radiation therapy after surgery for head and neck cancer. Amifostine helps protect healthy tissue from some of the side effects caused by certain types of cancer treatment. It is a type of chemoprotective agent and a type of radioprotective agent. Also called Ethyol.
( A-mih-FOS-teen )
Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
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