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: no information
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
- Aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia
- CNS lymphoma
- HIV-associated lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma
- Mantle cell 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
- Antimetabolites
- Pyrimidine analogues
- DNA synthesis inhibitors
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia medications
- Acute myeloid leukemia medications
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia medications
- Aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma medications
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) medications
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia medications
- Central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma medications
- HIV-associated lymphoma medications
- Hodgkin lymphoma medications
- Mantle cell lymphoma medications
- Transplant medications
- Drugs FDA approved in 1969