Capecitabine

Definition

A fluoropyrimidine carbamate belonging to the class of antineoplastic agents called antimetabolites. As a prodrug, capecitabine is selectively activated by tumor cells to its cytotoxic moiety, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); subsequently, 5-FU is metabolized to two active metabolites, 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine monophosphate (FdUMP) and 5-fluorouridine triphosphate (FUTP) by both tumor cells and normal cells. FdUMP inhibits DNA synthesis and cell division by reducing normal thymidine production, while FUTP inhibits RNA and protein synthesis by competing with uridine triphosphate for incorporation into the RNA strand. (NCI04)

Also known as 5'-Deoxy-5-fluoro-N-[(pentyloxy)carbonyl]-cytidine, CAPECITABINE, Ro 09-1978/000, Xeloda — per NCIT

Also identified as

• ATC L01BC06 per RXNORM
• NCIT NCIT:C1794 per NCIT
• SCTID 108761006 per RXNORM
• SCTID 386906001 per RXNORM
• UNII 6804DJ8Z9U per RXNORM

Indications