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The metabolism and pharmacology of 5‐fluorouracil
Author(s) -
Miller Edward
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930030311
Subject(s) - antimetabolite , medicine , fluorouracil , pharmacology , mechanism of action , chemotherapeutic drugs , drug , metabolism , clinical pharmacology , mechanism (biology) , chemotherapy , biochemistry , biology , in vitro , philosophy , epistemology
5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU) is a chemotherapeutic agent, which is administered systemically for the palliative treatment of certain neoplastic diseases. Because 5‐FU is a potent antimetabolite, it is recommended that the drug be given only by physicians experienced in the use of antimetabolites. Now that 5‐FU is being applied topically for the treatment of skin neoplasms, it would be useful to review the metabolism and pharmacology of this compound. In this paper, the metabolic pathways, the antineoplastic mechanism of action, and the effects on normal tissues are discussed.