capecitabine

Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy drug classified as a fluoropyrimidine carbamate antimetabolite. It is a prodrug that is enzymatically converted in the body to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which then interferes with DNA and RNA synthesis by inhibiting thymidylate synthase and incorporating into nucleic acids, leading to disruption of protein synthesis and apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. Capecitabine was developed to mimic the pharmacokinetics of infusional 5-FU while allowing for convenient oral administration. It is primarily indicated for the treatment of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (adjuvant and metastatic), breast cancer (advanced or metastatic, alone or with docetaxel), gastric, esophageal, gastroesophageal junction cancers (as part of combination regimens), and as adjuvant therapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma[1][2][10]. The drug was designed by Roche.

Brand names

Xeloda

Other names

CapecitabinCapecitabinaCapécitabineCapecitabinum