methotrexate

American  

[meth-oh-trek-seyt] / ˌmɛθ oʊˈtrɛk seɪt /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a toxic folic acid analogue, C 2 0 H 2 2 N 8 O 5 , that inhibits cellular reproduction, used primarily in the treatment of psoriasis and certain cancers and as an immunosuppressive agent.

---

methotrexate British  

/ ˌmɛθəʊˈtrɛkseɪt, ˌmiːθəʊ- /

noun

1. an antimetabolite drug used in the treatment of certain cancers. Formula: C 20 H 22 N 8 O 5

---

methotrexate Scientific  

/ mĕth′ə-trĕk′sāt /

1. A toxic drug that acts as a folic acid antagonist to interfere with cellular reproduction and is used in the treatment of psoriasis, certain cancers, and certain inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Chemical formula: C ₂₀ H ₂₂ N ₈ O ₅ .

---

Etymology

Origin of methotrexate

1950–55; metho(xy)- + trexate, of unclear derivation

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

methotrexate

Doctors only gave Thurman a methotrexate injection, a medication treatment, when her OB-GYN went to the hospital and spoke to the staff in person on her fourth visit to the emergency room.

From Salon ● May 26, 2026

The patients were given oral doses of methotrexate or ciclosporin and assessed over nine months of treatment and six months after the therapy ended.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2023

Isabella McDonald, then a junior at Utah Valley University, was diagnosed in April with a rare, often fatal bone cancer, whose sole treatment for young adults includes the drug methotrexate.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 21, 2023

A recent case in point was Intas Pharmaceuticals, a company in India that makes three key chemotherapy drugs that are difficult to find: methotrexate, carboplatin and cisplatin, the drug Mr. Dwars needed.

From New York Times ● May 17, 2023

The oncologist will probably come in to ask you some questions before we start the methotrexate.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick