5-fluorouracil + vorinostat

This is a combination therapy consisting of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a pyrimidine analog antimetabolite, and vorinostat (also known as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid or SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. 5-fluorouracil inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis and leading to cell death in rapidly dividing cells. Vorinostat inhibits histone deacetylases, resulting in increased acetylation of histones and non-histone proteins, which can alter gene expression and promote apoptosis in cancer cells. Preclinical studies suggest that the combination may have synergistic antitumor effects by downregulating thymidylate synthase expression and enhancing proapoptotic signaling pathways[2][3][5]. Clinical trials have explored this combination primarily for metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of standard therapies; however, dose-limiting toxicities were observed at multiple dose levels[2], preventing establishment of a maximum tolerated dose.

Other names

5-FU + vorinostatfluorouracil + vorinostat