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Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy medication used primarily in the treatment of various cancers.
Capecitabine is an antimetabolite chemotherapeutic agent. It's classified as a prodrug, meaning it is metabolized in the body to its active form, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
Once ingested, capecitabine is absorbed and converted through a series of enzymatic reactions into 5-FU. 5-FU then interferes with DNA synthesis and RNA processing by inhibiting enzymes like thymidylate synthase. This disruption of nucleotide production hinders rapid cell division, making it effective against cancer cells that multiply quickly.
One of the advantages of capecitabine is that it is taken by mouth in tablet form, as opposed to intravenous administration, which can be more convenient for patients