Monoethanolamine is both a primary amine and a primary alcohol. It is an olamine derivative. Monoethanolamine occurs in every cell in the human body as the head group of Phosphatidylethanolamine. Monoethanolamine is a component of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, which are essential for viability. Other sources of monoethanolamine or phosphoethanolamine in the human body are the degradation of sphingosine phosphate by sphingosine phosphate lyase and the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide by the fatty acid amine hydrolase. Monoethanolamine stimulates the rapid growth of mammalian cells in culture. Monoethanolamine has a cardioprotective role against ischemia/reperfusion injury via activation of the transcription factor STAT-3. Monoethanolamine is a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of cosmetics, surface-active agents, emulsifiers, pharmaceuticals, and plasticizing agents.

Ifosfamide (IF) is a widely used antitumor prodrug. It is in the oxazaphosphorine class of alkylating agents, and it is effective against solid tumors. Ifosfamide mechanism of crosslinking DNA plays a major role in preventing cancer cells from proliferating. Ifosfamide is approved by FDA for the treatment of germ cell testicular cancer.