busulfan

[ byoo-suhl-fuhn ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a potent cytotoxic substance, C 6 H 14 O 6 S 2 , used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of busulfan¹

1955–60; bu(tanediol dimethane) sulf(onate) its chemical name + -an perhaps originally variant of -ane