Melphalan, busulphan and P32

• Treatment leaflets
• Anagrelide
• Integrative treatment
• Aspirin
• Cytarabine
• Hydroxycarbamide
• Interferon alpha
• Melphalan, busulphan and P32
• Thalidomide
• Venesection (phlebotomy)
• Bone marrow transplant
• Additional treatments
  • Blood thinning drugs
  • Danazol
  • Erythropoetin (EPO)
  • Transfusion
  • Treatments to control gout
  • Treatments to control itching

Melphalan, busulphan or radioactive phosphorous (also called P32) were the main therapies used in the past to treat essential thrombocythaemia and other myeloproliferative disorders.

Why are these drugs no longer commonly used?

Melphalan, busulphan or radioactive phosphorous can cause infertility and can damage the bone marrow. These drugs are known to increase the risk of developing acute leukaemia.

Why take these drugs?

Haematologists still use both busulphan and phosphorous to treat MPD when other drugs are not working, when other drugs cause side effects, or when it is difficult for patients to take hydroxycarbamide tablets.

Taking busulfan and phosphorus

• Busulfan Busulphan (like hydroxycarbamide) affects the bone marrow directly and can lead to a fall in the blood counts. It is usually given in short courses with regular monitoring. Busulphan can cause lung problems as a side effect.

• Phosphorous is given as an injection. It is a weakly radioactive drug and is usually given via nuclear medicine departments. Injections are needed only very infrequently.

More information