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.[1][2]
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.[1]
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) and Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia
- CNS lymphoma
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- HIV-associated lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hypereosinophilic syndrome
- 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)[3]
- Cytarabine (Cytosar) patient drug information (UpToDate)[4]
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 |
References
- Drug index
- Chemotherapy
- Intrathecal medications
- Intravenous chemotherapy
- Subcutaneous chemotherapy
- Irritant chemotherapy
- Neutral chemotherapy
- Antimetabolites
- Deoxycytidine analogues
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia medications
- Acute myeloid leukemia medications
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia medications
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma medications
- Burkitt lymphoma medications
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) medications
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia medications
- Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma medications
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma medications
- HIV-associated lymphoma medications
- Hodgkin lymphoma medications
- Hypereosinophilic syndrome medications
- Mantle cell lymphoma medications
- Peripheral T-cell lymphoma medications
- Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma medications
- Transformed lymphoma medications
- Transplant medications
- Drugs FDA approved in 1969
- WHO Essential Cancer Medicine