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
- B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Acute myeloid leukemia
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia
- Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma
- 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
- T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Transformed lymphoma
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
- Generic names: Ara-C, arabinosylcytosine, arabinofuranosyl cytidine, cytosine arabinoside
- Brand names:
Synonyms | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alcysten | Alexan | ARA | Arabine | Arabitin | Aracitin | Aracytin | Aracytine |
Citagenin | Citaloxan | Citarabin | Citarabina | Citarabins | Citarax | Cylocide | Cytarabin |
Cytarabins | Cytarabinum | Cytarbel | Cytarine | Cytosar | Cytosar-U | Cytrosar | Depocyt |
Depocyte | Erbabin | Erpalfa | Fauldcita | Groven | Ifarab | Iretin | Laracit |
Medsara | Novutrax | Remcyta | Starasid | Tabin | Tabine | Udicil |
References
- Drugs
- Intrathecal medications
- Intravenous medications
- Subcutaneous medications
- Irritant chemotherapy
- Neutral chemotherapy
- Antimetabolites
- Deoxycytidine analogues
- B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia medications
- Acute myeloid leukemia medications
- Acute promyelocytic leukemia medications
- Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma medications
- Anaplastic large cell lymphoma medications
- Burkitt lymphoma medications
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia medications
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia medications
- CNS lymphoma medications
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma medications
- HIV-associated lymphoma medications
- Hodgkin lymphoma medications
- Hypereosinophilic syndrome medications
- Langerhans cell histiocytosis medications
- Mantle cell lymphoma medications
- Peripheral T-cell lymphoma medications
- Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma medications
- T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia medications
- Transformed lymphoma medications
- FDA approved in 1969
- WHO Essential Cancer Medicine