palifosfamide

Palifosfamide is a proprietary, stabilized active metabolite of ifosfamide, classified as a synthetic mustard compound and bi-functional DNA alkylating agent. It exerts its antineoplastic effects by irreversibly alkylating and cross-linking DNA, primarily at GC base pairs, resulting in the inhibition of DNA replication and protein synthesis, ultimately leading to cell death. Unlike its parent compound ifosfamide, palifosfamide does not require metabolic activation by aldehyde dehydrogenase and does not produce toxic metabolites such as acrolein or chloroacetaldehyde. This property may allow it to overcome certain resistance mechanisms seen with ifosfamide therapy and reduce associated bladder or CNS toxicity. Palifosfamide was investigated for use in various cancers including soft tissue sarcoma (with orphan drug status), testicular cancer, lymphoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, small cell lung cancer, germ cell tumors, hematological malignancies, and solid tumors.

Brand names

Zymafos

Other names

ifosfamide mustardisophosphamide mustardisophosphoramide mustardpalifosfamide-tris