Fluorouracil Health Dictionary

A platinum-based anticancer drug given intravenously for the treatment of colorectal cancer with metastases. It is usually combined with FLUOROURACIL and folinic acid. Side-effects include toxic damage to the nervous system.... oxaliplatin

A group of drugs used in the treatment of certain forms of malignant disease. Chemically, they closely resemble substances (or METABOLITES) which are essential for the life and growth of CELLS. Antimetabolites are incorporated into new nuclear material in the cell or combine irreversibly with essential cellular enzymes, thus disrupting normal cellular division (see MITOSIS and MEIOSIS) and causing death of the cell. There is now a range of antimetabolites including CYTARABINE, METHOTREXATE, FLUOROURACIL and MERCAPTOPURINE.... antimetabolites

n. any one of a group of drugs that interfere with the normal metabolic processes within cells by combining with the enzymes responsible for them. Some drugs used in the treatment of cancer, e.g. *cytarabine *fluorouracil, *methotrexate, and *mercaptopurine, are antimetabolites that prevent cell growth by interfering with enzyme reactions essential for nucleic acid synthesis. For example, fluorouracil inhibits the enzyme thymidylate synthetase. Side-effects of antimetabolites can include blood cell disorders and digestive disturbances. See also chemotherapy; cytotoxic drug.... antimetabolite

(BCC) the commonest form of skin cancer. Although classified as a malignant tumour, it grows very slowly and hardly ever metastasizes. BCC usually occurs on the central area of the face, especially in fair-skinned people; the prevalence increases greatly with episodes of sunburn. The initial sign is a spot or lump that fails to heal, which slowly enlarges. Treatment depends on subtype and is usually straightforward, e.g. topical chemotherapy agents (such as 5-fluorouracil), *curettage and cautery, surgical excision, *cryotherapy, or *radiotherapy. High-risk BCCs around the eyes or nose may be treated with *Mohs’ micrographic surgery to ensure low rates of recurrence and maximal tissue conservation. Only if neglected for decades does a BCC eventually become a so-called rodent ulcer and destroy the surrounding tissue. However, the term ‘rodent ulcer’ is still sometimes used to mean any basal cell carcinoma.... basal cell carcinoma

any drug that damages or destroys cells: usually refers to those drugs used to treat various types of cancer. There are various classes of cytotoxic drugs, including *alkylating agents (e.g. *chlorambucil, *cyclophosphamide, *melphalan), *antimetabolites (e.g. *fluorouracil, *methotrexate, *mercaptopurine), *anthracycline antibiotics (e.g. *doxorubicin, *daunorubicin, *dactinomycin), *vinca alkaloids, and platinum compounds (e.g. *carboplatin, *cisplatin). Other cytotoxic drugs include *taxanes and *topoisomerase inhibitors, and some *monoclonal antibodies (e.g. *bevacizumab, *trastuzumab) have cytotoxic activity. All these drugs offer successful treatment in some conditions and help reduce symptoms and prolong life in others. Cytotoxic drugs destroy cancer cells by interfering with cell division, but they also affect normal cells, particularly in bone marrow (causing *myelosuppression), hair follicles (causing hair loss), the stomach lining (resulting in severe nausea and vomiting), mouth (causing soreness), and fetal tissue (they should not be taken during the later stages of pregnancy). Dosage must therefore be carefully controlled. See also chemotherapy.... cytotoxic drug

n. any one of a class of *antimetabolite drugs used in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies and breast cancer. They include *fluorouracil and the orally administered drugs *capecitabine and tegafur.... fluoropyrimidine

a derivative of folic acid involved in purine synthesis. It is used to reverse the biological effects of methotrexate and other *dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and so to prevent excessive toxicity. This action is termed folinic acid rescue. Folinic acid has a potentiating effect with *fluorouracil, with which it is often used.... folinic acid

n. see fluorouracil.... 5fu

a fine plastic cannula usually inserted into the subclavian vein in the neck to allow administration of drugs and repeated blood samples. The catheter is tunnelled for several centimetres beneath the skin to prevent infection entering the bloodstream. It is used most frequently in patients receiving long-term chemotherapy, particularly infusion regimes (e.g. fluorouracil).... hickman catheter

(hand–foot syndrome) a skin reaction marked by redness, numbness, and desquamation of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It can be caused by many chemotherapy drugs, particularly fluorouracil and capecitabine, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Treatment requires cessation of the drug.... palmoplantar erythrodysaesthesia

n. a drug that requires metabolism in the liver before becoming biologically active. Examples are *carbimazole, which is metabolized to the pharmacologically active compound methimazole; and *capecitabine, which is metabolized to *fluorouracil.... prodrug

n. a substance that increases the sensitivity of cells to radiation. The presence of oxygen and other compounds with a high affinity for electrons will increase radiosensitivity. Chemotherapy drugs such as fluorouracil and cisplatin can be used concurrently with radiotherapy as radiosensitizers (see chemoradiotherapy).... radiosensitizer

see fluoropyrimidine; fluorouracil.... tegafur

any one of a class of *cytotoxic drugs that work by blocking the action of topoisomerase enzymes, which promote the uncoiling of the DNA double helix, a necessary preliminary to replication. Topoisomerase I inhibitors include irinotecan, used for treating advanced colorectal cancer (especially in combination with *fluorouracil); and topotecan, given for treating advanced ovarian cancer, relapsed small-cell lung cancer, and recurrent cervical cancer. Side-effects include delayed but severe diarrhoea and reduction in blood-cell production by the bone marrow. Topoisomerase II inhibitors include *etoposide and *doxorubicin.... topoisomerase inhibitor