5-Fluorouracil

5-fluorouracil is a nucleobase analogue that is uracil in which the hydrogen at position 5 is replaced by fluorine. It is an antineoplastic agent which functions as a antimetabolite – following conversion to the active deoxynucleotide, it inhibits DNA synthesis (by blocking the conversion of deoxyuridylic acid to thymidylic acid by the cellular enzyme thymidylate synthetase) and so slows tumour growth. Among its listed roles, it functions as a xenobiotic, an environmental contaminant, a radiosensitizing agent, an antineoplastic agent, an immunosuppressive agent and an antimetabolite. It is a nucleobase analogue and an organofluorine compound. Functionally, it is related to uracil. It is grouped under the following drug class(es): Antineoplastic agents and Cytotoxics. Its therapeutic use is listed as anti-cancer agents, antineoplastics and dermatologicals. The directory classifies it as a commercial API with a synthetic source/manufacturing origin. Other names for this substance include Fluorouracil, Efudex, Queroplex, Phthoruracil, Carzonal and Arumel. Its PubChem CID is 3385.