Fluorouracil

Fluorouracil is an approved anti-cancer drug that works by preventing cell division. In its intravenous formulation it is used to treat a number of tumours including breast cancer and cancer of the colon. It also comes as a cream, which can be used to treat or prevent the recurrence of cervical, anal, or genital neoplasia caused by human papilloma virus. It is also being testes for use in treating anal cancer, often in combination with other drugs and radiotherapy.

Side-effects of the cream include burning, inflammation and discoloration of the skin.

Fluorouracil is also known as 5-fluorouracil, or the abbreviation 5-FU. It is available in a generic formulation and is also manufactured by Roche under the trade name Efudix.

A test tube study has suggested that fluorouracil can enhance the anti-HIV activity of d4T (stavudine, Zerit).1

References

  1. Gong YF et al. Potentiation of the stavudine anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity by 5-fluorouracil. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 40: 1329, 1996

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