Cytarabine (Ara-C)

General information

Class/mechanism: Pyrimidine analog, mimics cytosine. Converted intracellularly into cytarabine-5-triphosphate (ara-CTP). Exact mechanism of action not known; believed to inhibit DNA polymerase, incorporate into DNA and RNA, and kill cells undergoing DNA synthesis (S-phase) and sometimes block cells from progressing from the G1 phase to the S-phase.
Route: IV, IT, SC
Extravasation: irritant or neutral, depending on reference

For conciseness and simplicity, HemOnc.org currently will focus on treatment regimens and not list information such as: renal/hepatic dose adjustments, metabolism (including CYP450), excretion, monitoring parameters (although this will be considered for checklists), or manufacturer. Instead, for the most current information, please refer to your preferred pharmacopeias such as Micromedex, Lexicomp, UpToDate (courtesy of Lexicomp), or the prescribing information.

Diseases for which it is used

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia
• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Acute promyelocytic leukemia
• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
• Burkitt lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL/SLL)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia
• CNS lymphoma
• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• HIV-associated lymphoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Hypereosinophilic syndrome
• Langerhans cell histiocytosis
• Mantle cell lymphoma
• Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
• Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma
• Transformed lymphoma
• Transplant conditioning regimens

Patient drug information

• Cytarabine (Cytosar) patient drug information (Chemocare)
• Cytarabine (Cytosar) patient drug information (UpToDate)

History of changes in FDA indication

• June 1969: initial FDA approval

Also known as

Synonyms
Alcysten	Alexan	Alexan 100	ARA	Ara-C	Arabine	Arabinosylcytosine	Arabitin
ARA Cell	Aracitin	Aracytin	Aracytine	Arabinofuranosyl Cytidine	Citagenin	Citaloxan	Citarabin
Citarabina	Citarabina Filaxis	Citarabina Martian	Citarabina Pharmacia	Citarabins	Citarax	Cylocide	Cylocide-N
Cytarabin	Cytarabin CS	Cytarabine	Cytarabine BVI	Cytarabine Comp	Cytarabine DBL	Cytarabine Faulding	Cytarabine FOT
Cytarabine Hydrochloride	Cytarabine Mayne Onco-Tain	Cytarabine Ocfosfate	Cytarabine Pfizer	Cytarabins	Cytarabinum	Cytarbel	Cytarine
Cytosar	Cytosar-U	Cytosine Arabinoside	Cytrosar	Depocyt	Depocyte	Erbabin	Erpalfa
Fauldcita	Groven	Ifarab	Iretin	Laracit	Medsara	Novutrax	P&U Cytarabine
Remcyta	Starasid	Tabin	Tabine	Trav Cytarabine	Udicil