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Pathway Description
Fluorouracil Metabolism Pathway
Homo sapiens
Drug Metabolism Pathway
Created: 2013-09-11
Last Updated: 2026-05-25
Fluorouracil (5-FU), sold under the brand name Adrucil among others, is a fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug. By injection into a vein, it is used to treat colon cancer, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. As a cream, it is used for actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and skin warts. Fluorouracil is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system . Fluorouracil exerts cytotoxic effects on the cell by direct incorporation into DNA and RNA as well as by inhibiting thymidylate synthase.
References
Fluorouracil Pathway References
Longley DB, Harkin DP, Johnston PG: 5-fluorouracil: mechanisms of action and clinical strategies. Nat Rev Cancer. 2003 May;3(5):330-8. doi: 10.1038/nrc1074.
Pubmed: 12724731
Parker WB, Cheng YC: Metabolism and mechanism of action of 5-fluorouracil. Pharmacol Ther. 1990;48(3):381-95.
Pubmed: 1707544
Takeishi K, Kaneda S, Ayusawa D, Shimizu K, Gotoh O, Seno T: Nucleotide sequence of a functional cDNA for human thymidylate synthase. Nucleic Acids Res. 1985 Mar 25;13(6):2035-43. doi: 10.1093/nar/13.6.2035.
Pubmed: 2987839
Kaneda S, Nalbantoglu J, Takeishi K, Shimizu K, Gotoh O, Seno T, Ayusawa D: Structural and functional analysis of the human thymidylate synthase gene. J Biol Chem. 1990 Nov 25;265(33):20277-84.
Pubmed: 2243092
Hisatomi H, Tanemura H, Iizuka T, Katsumata K, Nagao K, Sumida H, Udagawa H, Hikiji K: Differential alternative splicing expressions of thymidylate synthase isoforms. Cancer Lett. 2003 Apr 25;193(2):127-31. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3835(03)00005-3.
Pubmed: 12706868
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