Methotrexate
Related Category: Pharmacology
drug used in halting the growth of actively proliferating tissues. Introduced in the 1950s, it is used in the treatment of
leukemia,
psoriasis, and
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. By binding to an
enzyme that controls the metabolism of folic acid, methotrexate interferes with synthesis of
nucleic acids and therefore with tissue cell reproduction. Because of its immunosuppressive qualities, it is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis.
