Acrolein, the causative factor of urotoxic side-effects of cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, trofosfamide and sufosfamide.

The urotoxicity of oxazaphosphorine cytostatics is not based on their alkylating activity but on the presence of acrolein, which is spontaneously formed in the urine from the primary metabolites eliminated via the kidneys. Thus, acrolein proved to be the causative factor in the urotoxicity of oxazaphosphorines. The mechanism of action of the uroprotector sodium 2-mercaptoethane-sulfonate (mesnum, Mitexan) is mainly based on the formation of a non-toxic additive compound with acrolein.