Synonyms
Definition
Is a drug primarily used in cancer treatment. It is considered a pyrimidine analog belonging to the class of drugs known as antimetabolites. This chemotherapy agent has been used against cancer for about 40 years and appears to have multiple sites of action. As a pyrimidine analog it is activated inside the cell to a cytotoxic metabolite that is incorporated into RNA and DNA. This action causes cell cycle arrest and, in many instances, induces apoptosis. Because its main actions involve DNA synthesis, this agent is considered an S-phase-specific drug and is active during this phase of the cell cycle in actively dividing cells.
Characteristics
Fluorouracil continues to have wide use in the treatment of cancer. Research over the past several years has increased our understanding of how 5-FU inhibits cell growth, and this has led to the development of new strategies that have increased the utility of this anticancer drug. However, drug resistance...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Grem JL (2006) 5-Fluoropyrimidines. In: Chabner BA, Longo DL (eds) Cancer chemotherapy and biotherapy: principles and practices, 4th edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 125–182
Krokan HE, Otterlei M, Nilsen H et al (2001) Properties and functions of human uracil-DNA glycosylase from the UNG gene. Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol 68:365–386
Kummar S, Noronha V, Chu E (2005) Pharmacology of cancer chemotherapy: antimetabolites. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA (eds) Cancer: principles and practice of oncology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, pp 358–374
Longley DB, Harkin DP, Johnston PG (2003) 5-Fluorouracil: mechanisms of action and clinical strategies. Nat Rev Cancer 35:330–338
Noordhuis P, Holwerda U, Van der Wilt CL et al (2004) 5-Fluorouracil incorporation into RNA and DNA in relation to thymidylate synthase inhibition of human colorectal cancers. Ann Oncol 157:1025–1032
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Caradonna, S.J. (2015). Fluorouracil. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_2222-2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_2222-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences