In English | En español
Questions About Cancer? 1-800-4-CANCER

NCI Drug Dictionary


doxifluridine 
A fluoropyrimidine derivative and oral prodrug of the antineoplastic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with antitumor activity. Doxifluridine, designed to circumvent the rapid degradation of 5-FU by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase in the gut wall, is converted into 5-FU in the presence of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase. 5-FU interferes with DNA synthesis and subsequent cell division by reducing normal thymidine production and interferes with RNA transcription by competing with uridine triphosphate for incorporation into the RNA strand. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
Abbreviation:5-DFUR
Chemical structure:5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine