capecitabine + nelfinavir

Capecitabine + nelfinavir is an investigational combination therapy consisting of two small molecule drugs. Capecitabine is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a fluoropyrimidine antimetabolite that interferes with DNA synthesis and function, leading to apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells[2]. Nelfinavir, originally developed as an HIV-1 protease inhibitor, has demonstrated off-target anti-cancer effects by inhibiting the protein kinase B (AKT) pathway and other mechanisms involved in tumor growth and survival[4][5]. This combination has been studied primarily in the context of rectal cancer as part of chemoradiation regimens, where nelfinavir may enhance radiosensitivity and augment the cytotoxic effects of capecitabine[1][4].