capecitabine + vorinostat

Capecitabine + vorinostat is an investigational combination therapy consisting of two small molecule drugs with distinct mechanisms of action, evaluated primarily in oncology. Capecitabine is an orally administered prodrug that is enzymatically converted to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) within tumor cells, where it acts as a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor and antimetabolite, interfering with DNA synthesis and leading to cancer cell death[3][2]. Vorinostat (also known as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid or SAHA) is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that modulates gene expression by altering chromatin structure, resulting in cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis in cancer cells[1][2]. Preclinical studies have shown that vorinostat can upregulate thymidine phosphorylase—an enzyme involved in the activation of capecitabine—thereby enhancing the antitumor effects of capecitabine through synergistic mechanisms[2]. This combination has been studied for its potential efficacy in various cancers including colorectal cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma[2][4].

Brand names

ZolinzaXeloda

Other names

SAHAsuberoylanilide hydroxamic acid