Mechlorethamine - also known as chlormethine - is an anticancer drug belonging to the class of alkylating agents. It is a compound that derives from mustard gas, a gas used as a chemical weapon during the First World War.
Mechlorethamine - Chemical Structure
After its discovery, mechlorethamine itself was first used as a chemical weapon, as it is a powerful blistering agent capable of damaging the skin and lungs causing burns and respiratory problems.
In 1942, mechlorethamine was the subject of clinical trials for its possible medical use in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma. The first results of these experiments were then published in 1948.
