title: The role of capecitabine in the management of tumors of the digestive system.
abstract: Capecitabine has been developed as a prodrug of FU, with the goal of improving tolerability and intratumor drug concentration through tumor-specific conversion to the active drug. The purpose of this article is to review the available information on capecitabine with respect to clinical efficacy for tumors of the digestive tract, adverse-effect profile, documented drug interactions, dosage and administration, and future directions of ongoing research. Relevant English-language literature was identified through searches of NCI, PubMed, ASCO.org and ESMO, ECCO meetings proceedings.
authors.affiliation: Areteion Hospital, Oncology Clinic, Department of Surgery, Athens, Greece. gennatas@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennatas
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Michalaki
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gennatas
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin