fluorouracil + ifosfamide + methotrexate

This is a combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of three drugs—fluorouracil (5-FU), ifosfamide, and methotrexate. Each drug has a distinct mechanism of action targeting cancer cells: - Fluorouracil is an antimetabolite that inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis and function. - Ifosfamide is an alkylating agent that crosslinks DNA strands, preventing cell replication. - Methotrexate is also an antimetabolite that inhibits dihydrofolate reductase, blocking the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate required for purine and thymidylate production. This specific combination was studied as a modification of the classic CMF regimen (cyclophosphamide replaced by ifosfamide) in patients with breast cancer refractory to or relapsed after standard CMF therapy. The regimen demonstrated efficacy in inducing complete and partial remissions in metastatic breast cancer patients who had failed previous treatments. Toxicities were considered tolerable at studied doses[1].