title: Capecitabine in carcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: Capecitabine is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil, which is converted to 5-fluorouracil by three sequential enzymatic reactions. The final requisite enzyme, thymidine phosphorylase, is present at consistently higher levels in tumours compared with normal tissues, thereby suggesting that 5-fluorouracil that is delivered in this way may benefit from an element of tumour targeting and thus enhanced selectivity and better tolerability. Capecitabine has been shown to have single-agent activity in advanced carcinoma of the pancreas and to improve response rates and survival when administered in combination with gemcitabine compared with gemcitabine alone. This paper reviews the pharmacology and clinical data that are relevant to the use of capecitabine in pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, L63 4JY, UK. david.smith@ccotrust.nhs.uk
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Neoptolemos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D011355:Prodrugs; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine