vincristine en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /vɪnˈkɹɪ.stiːn/
Etymology
From vin- (“vinca alkaloid”) + Latin crista (“tuft of leaves on plants”) + English -ine.
Meanings
-
(countable, uncountable) A cytotoxic compound C₄₆H₅₆N₄O₁₀ of the alkaloid class obtained from the Madagascar periwinkle and used especially in the form of its sulfate to treat acute leukemia and other cancers.
Although originally intended as an antidiabetic, vincristine at small doses was found to kill leukemia cells.
2010, Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies, Fourth Estate (2011), pages 139–140:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| vincristines | Number=Plur | lexicographic |