3-deazacytidine

3-Deazacytidine is an experimental small molecule nucleoside analog that functions as a potent inhibitor of cytidine deaminase (CDA). By mimicking the structure of cytidine, it competitively binds to the active site of CDA, preventing the enzymatic deamination of cytidine and deoxycytidine into uridine and deoxyuridine. This inhibition is primarily utilized in biochemical research to prevent the metabolic inactivation of other nucleoside-based chemotherapeutic agents, such as gemcitabine and cytarabine, thereby potentially enhancing their therapeutic activity. Although it was investigated in Phase 1 clinical trials in the late 1970s and early 1980s for its own antineoplastic properties, it did not progress to further clinical development and is currently used primarily as a pharmacological research tool.

Other names

4-amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-2(1H)-pyridinone