capecitabine + etoposide

Capecitabine + etoposide is an oral combination chemotherapy regimen used primarily in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC), particularly in patients who have become resistant to anthracyclines and taxanes. Capecitabine is a fluoropyrimidine carbamate antimetabolite that acts as a prodrug, being converted into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) preferentially within tumor cells, where it inhibits DNA synthesis and cell division. Etoposide is a topoisomerase II inhibitor that induces DNA strand breaks by stabilizing the enzyme-DNA complex during replication, leading to apoptosis of rapidly dividing cancer cells. The combination has been studied in metronomic regimens—low-dose, continuous administration—to maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity. Clinical studies have shown this regimen can achieve disease control with tolerable side effects for patients with advanced or resistant MBC[1][2]. Both drugs are small molecules administered orally.

Other names

capecitabine and etoposideetoposide + capecitabine