title: Role of thymidine in biochemical modulation: a review.
abstract: The role of thymidine in the treatment of cancer has been under clinical investigation for nearly a decade. Clinical trials have demonstrated that it lacks antitumor activity in its own right. In this review, the mechanism of action and rationale for the use of thymidine as a biochemical modulator of standard agents such as 5-fluorouracil, 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine, and methotrexate are summarized. With this background, the clinical trials which have been conducted with thymidine, either alone or in combination, are described. We suggest a number of further studies of the role of thymidine in the biochemical modulation of antimetabolites.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Dwyer
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hoth
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leyland-Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003842:Deoxycytidine Kinase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D006801:Humans; D007399:Interphase / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D009711:Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013045:Species Specificity; D013936:Thymidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005493:Folic Acid Antagonists; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D009711:Nucleotides; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D003561:Cytarabine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C013195:sparfosic acid; D003842:Deoxycytidine Kinase; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid; D005472:Fluorouracil; D013936:Thymidine; D008727:Methotrexate