| Drug Name |
Gemcitabine |
| Drug ID |
BADD_D01009 |
| Description |
Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog and a chemotherapeutic agent. It was originally investigated for its antiviral effects, but it is now used as an anticancer therapy for various cancers.[A233135] Gemcitabine is a cytidine analog with two fluorine atoms replacing the hydroxyl on the ribose.[A233145] As a prodrug, gemcitabine is transformed into its active metabolites that work by replacing the building blocks of nucleic acids during DNA elongation, arresting tumour growth and promoting apoptosis of malignant cells.[L32960] The structure, metabolism, and mechanism of action of gemcitabine are similar to [cytarabine], but gemcitabine has a wider spectrum of antitumour activity.[A233140]
Gemcitabine is marketed as Gemzar and it is available as intravenous injection. It is approved by the FDA to treat advanced ovarian cancer in combination with [carboplatin], metastatic breast cancer in combination with [paclitaxel], non-small cell lung cancer in combination with [cisplatin], and pancreatic cancer as monotherapy.[L32950] It is also being investigated in other cancer and tumour types. |
| Indications and Usage |
Gemcitabine is a chemotherapeutic agent used as monotherapy or in combination with other anticancer agents.
In combination with [carboplatin], it is indicated for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer that has relapsed at least 6 months after completion of platinum-based therapy.[L32950]
Gemcitabine in combination with [paclitaxel] is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer after failure of prior anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy, unless anthracyclines were clinically contraindicated.[L32950]
In combination with [cisplatin], gemcitabine is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with inoperable, locally advanced (Stage IIIA or IIIB) or metastatic (Stage IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).[L32950] Dual therapy with cisplatin is also used to treat patients with Stage IV (locally advanced or metastatic) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.[L32955]
Gemcitabine is indicated as first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced (nonresectable Stage II or Stage III) or metastatic (Stage IV) adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Gemcitabine is indicated for patients previously treated with [fluorouracil].[L32950] |
| Marketing Status |
approved |
| ATC Code |
L01BC05 |
| DrugBank ID |
DB00441
|
| KEGG ID |
D02368
|
| MeSH ID |
C056507
|
| PubChem ID |
60750
|
| TTD Drug ID |
D03UVS
|
| NDC Product Code |
16729-391; 16729-426; 0143-9394; 62756-008; 62756-219; 62756-614; 62756-073; 0409-0183; 62756-321; 62756-438; 63323-102; 63323-126; 68001-350; 55111-687; 62756-533; 62756-974; 16729-423; 55111-686; 62756-102; 0409-0182; 81955-0006; 16729-419; 0143-9395; 63323-125; 0409-0181; 68001-359; 0409-0186; 50742-498; 65129-1235; 50742-497; 62756-746; 0409-0185; 0409-0187; 68001-342; 68001-348; 50742-496 |
| UNII |
B76N6SBZ8R
|
| Synonyms |
gemcitabine | 2',2'-difluoro-2'-deoxycytidine | gemicitabine | 2'-deoxy-2'-difluorocytidine | dFdCyd | 2',2'-DFDC | 2',2'-difluorodeoxycytidine | gemcitabine hydrochloride | LY 188011 | LY-188011 | gemcitabine, (beta-D-threo-pentafuranosyl)-isomer | gemcitabine, (D-threo-pentafuranosyl)-isomer | Gemzar | 2'-deoxy-2',2''-difluorocytidine-5'-O-monophosphate | gemcitabine, (alpha-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)-isomer |
