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 myeloid leukemia
• Acute promyelocytic leukemia
• Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma
• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
• Burkitt lymphoma
• B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• 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

Diseases for which it was used

• Multiple myeloma

Patient drug information

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

History of changes in FDA indication

• 6/17/1969: initial FDA approval
• 10/15/1998: (earliest label available on Drugs@FDA) indicated in combination with other approved anticancer drugs for remission induction in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia of adults and pediatric patients. It has also been found useful in the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia and the blast phase of chronic myelocytic leukemia. Intrathecal administration is indicated in the prophylaxis and treatment of meningeal leukemia.

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