Home > Encyclopedia of Cancer > Hydroxyurea

Definition

Hydroxyurea, also known by its trade name Hydrea, is an antineoplastic agent, meaning it is used to treat cancer. It is taken orally.

Purpose

Hydroxyurea is used to treat the following conditions:

• Melanoma
• Chronic myelocytic leukemia that is resistant to other therapies
• Ovarian cancer that is recurrent, metastatic or inoperable.
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, excluding the lip. (In this case, it is treated with radiation therapy.)
• Sickle cell anemia
• Other: Hydroxyurea has shown promise in the management of thrombocytosis, a condition in which platelet levels are abnormally high

Description