• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Antivirals
• Antimetabolites
• Antineoplastic Agents
• ATC:L01BC01

• AR3
• Alexan
• Ara-C
• AraC
• Arabinocytidine
• Arabinofuranosylcytosine
• Arabinosylcytosine
• Arabitin
• Aracytidine
• Aracytin
• Aracytine
• Arafcyt
• Beta-cytosine arabinoside
• Citarabina [INN-Spanish]
• Cytarabin
• Cytarabina
• Cytarabine (JP14/USP)
• Cytarabine [USAN:BAN:INN:JAN]
• Cytarabine(USAN)
• Cytarabinoside
• Cytarabinum [INN-Latin]
• Cytarbel
• Cytosar
• Cytosar-U
• Cytosine 1-beta-D-arabinofuranoside
• Cytosine arabinofuranoside
• Cytosine arabinose
• Cytosine arabinoside
• Cytosine arabinoside (VAN)
• Cytosine beta-D-arabinoside
• Cytosine, 1-beta-D-arabinosyl-
• Cytosine, beta-D-arabinoside
• Cytosine-1-beta-D-arabinofuranoside
• Cytosine-beta-D-arabinofuranoside
• Cytosine-beta-arabinoside
• Depocyt
• Depocyt (TN)
• Depocyt (liposomal)
• Erpalfa
• Iretin
• Spongocytidine
• Tarabine
• Udicil
• beta-Arabinosylcytosine
• beta-D-Arabinosylcytosine

C₉H₁₃N₃O₅

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/cytarabine.htm

Krenitski, et al; Carbohydr.Res.; 97, 139-146(1981)

243.217 g/mol

212-213^oC

Freely soluble

Solid

-2.712

Injectable solution

For the treatment of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia and blast phase of chronic myelocytic leukemia.

Cytarabine is an antineoplastic anti-metabolite used in the treatment of several forms of leukemia including acute myelogenous leukemia and meningeal leukemia. Anti-metabolites masquerade as purine or pyrimidine - which become the building blocks of DNA. They prevent these substances becoming incorporated in to DNA during the "S" phase (of the cell cycle), stopping normal development and division. Cytarabine is metabolized intracellularly into its active triphosphate form (cytosine arabinoside triphosphate). This metabolite then damages DNA by multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of alpha-DNA polymerase, inhibition of DNA repair through an effect on beta-DNA polymerase, and incorporation into DNA. The latter mechanism is probably the most important. Cytotoxicity is highly specific for the S phase of the cell cycle.

Less than 20% of the orally administered dose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Cytarabine syndrome may develop - it is characterized by fever, myalgia, bone pain, occasionally chest pain, maculopapular rash, conjunctivitis, and malaise.

This medicine is a type of chemotherapy for treating cancers of the
blood and certain other cancers. This medicine interfers with the
way cancer cells grow, Take your doses on a regular scheduled time
and DO NOT take this medicine more often than directed by your health
care provider. Finish the full course prescribed by your health care
provider. DO NOT stop taking this medicine unless diredted to do so
by your health care provider. While taking this medicine, you make
get infection more easily. Call your doctor if you get a fever, chills,
or sore throat. Drink plenty of water with this medicine.

Humans and other mammals