tepa Chem.
(ˈtiːpə)
Also TEPA.
[f. triethylene phosphoramide.]
An organophosphorus compound, PO(N(CH2)2)3, used as an insect sterilant and formerly in the treatment of cancer.
| 1953 Cancer VI. 140/2 These observations justify the continuation of studies of the action of tepa in advanced cancer. 1963 New Scientist 13 June 603/2 More than 31/4 million flies..had been sexually sterilised by dipping their pupae in a 5 per cent solution of tepa. 1973 J. J. McKelvey Man against Tsetse iii. 196 [Experimenters] tried to eradicate tsetse from an area in Rhodesia by sterilizing male flies with..tepa. |