A drug used to
treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) that has not
gotten better with other treatment. It is also used with
radiation therapy and other anticancer drugs to treat
certain types of head and neck cancer. It is used under the
brand name Hydrea to treat these cancers. It is also used
under the brand name Droxia to treat certain patients with
sickle cell anemia. Hydroxyurea is
also being studied in the treatment of other conditions and
types of cancer. It stops cells from making DNA and may
kill cancer cells. It may also make cancer cells easier to
kill with radiation therapy. Hydroxyurea is a type of
antimetabolite.