NCIt related terms : 6-[(1-Methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazol-5-yl)thio]-1H-purine;
NCIt definition : A purine analogue with cytotoxic and immunosuppressive activity. Azathioprine is a
prodrug that is converted by hepatic xanthine oxidase to its active metabolite 6-mercaptopurine
(6-MP). 6-MP is further metabolized by hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase
(HGPRT) into 6-thioguanosine-5'-phosphate (6-thio-GMP) and 6-thioinosine monophosphate
(6-thio-IMP), both inhibit nucleotide conversions and de novo purine synthesis. This
leads to inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. As a result, cell proliferation
may be inhibited, particularly in lymphocytes and leukocytes.;