CoFactor + 5-fluorouracil

CoFactor + 5-fluorouracil is a combination chemotherapy regimen evaluated for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. CoFactor (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate) is a reduced folate that acts as a biomodulator of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In the presence of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, the 5-FU metabolite fluorodeoxyuridylate (FdUMP) binds more effectively to the enzyme thymidylate synthase, forming a stable ternary complex that inhibits DNA synthesis. Unlike leucovorin, which requires metabolic conversion to become active, CoFactor is the direct active form of the folate required for this reaction. The combination was developed by Mast Therapeutics (formerly Adventrx Pharmaceuticals) and was studied in Phase II clinical trials to compare its efficacy and safety against the standard leucovorin and 5-FU regimen.

Other names

5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate + 5-fluorouracilCH2THF + 5-fluorouracilMTHF + 5-FU