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Cytosine arabinoside

Cytarabine
Cytarabin.svg
Cytarabine ball-and-stick.png
Clinical data
Trade names Cytosar-U, Depocyt, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a682222
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: D
  • US: D (Evidence of risk)
Routes of
administration
injectable (intravenous injection or infusion, intrathecal, or subcutaneously)
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 20% by mouth
Protein binding 13%
Metabolism liver
Biological half-life biphasic: 10 min, 1–3 hr
Excretion kidney
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
PDB ligand
ECHA InfoCard 100.005.188
Chemical and physical data
Formula C9H13N3O5
Molar mass 243.217 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)
  

Cytarabine, also known as cytosine arabinoside (ara-C), is a chemotherapy medication used to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is given by injection into a vein, under the skin, or into the cerebrospinal fluid. There is a liposomal formulation for which there is tentative evidence of better outcomes in lymphoma involving the meninges.

Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, vomiting, diarrhea, liver problems, rash, ulcer formation in the mouth, and bleeding. Other serious side effects include loss of consciousness, lung disease, and allergic reactions. Use during pregnancy may harm the baby. Cytarabine is in the antimetabolite and nucleoside analog families of medication. It works by blocking the function of DNA polymerase.

Cytarabine was patented in 1960 and approved for medical use in 1969. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 4.27 to 5.7 USD per 500 mg vial. This dose in the United Kingdom costs the NHS about 50.00 pounds while the liposomal form is 1,223.75 pounds per 50 mg vial.


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