FLUOROCYTOSINE Meaning and
Definition
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Fluorocytosine is a chemical compound that is primarily used as an anticancer agent and as an antifungal medication. It is a synthetic nucleotide analogue derived from cytosine, a nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA.
In its anticancer applications, fluorocytosine works by interfering with DNA replication and ultimately inhibiting the growth and division of cancer cells. By mimicking the structure of cytosine, it is incorporated into the tumor's DNA, resulting in the formation of abnormal and defective DNA strands. This disruption of the genetic information prevents cancer cells from proliferating and leads to their eventual death.
In antifungal therapy, fluorocytosine is converted into its active form, 5-fluorouracil, by an enzyme produced by fungal cells. 5-fluorouracil functions by inhibiting the synthesis of fungal DNA and RNA, causing a disruption of their essential processes for survival.
Fluorocytosine is often used in combination with other drugs to enhance its efficacy and reduce the risk of resistance development. It is administered orally or intravenously, and its dosage and duration of treatment are determined based on the specific medical condition being treated.
While effective, fluorocytosine carries potential side effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances, hematologic toxicities, hepatotoxicity, and drug interactions. Therefore, it is important for patients to be closely monitored during treatment to ensure their safety and well-being.
Overall, fluorocytosine serves as a valuable therapeutic option in the treatment of certain cancers and fungal infections, contributing to the advancement of medicine in these areas.
Common Misspellings for FLUOROCYTOSINE
- dluorocytosine
- cluorocytosine
- vluorocytosine
- gluorocytosine
- tluorocytosine
- rluorocytosine
- fkuorocytosine
- fpuorocytosine
- fouorocytosine
- flyorocytosine
- flhorocytosine
- fljorocytosine
- fliorocytosine
- fl8orocytosine
- fl7orocytosine
- fluirocytosine
- flukrocytosine
- flulrocytosine
- fluprocytosine
- flu0rocytosine
Etymology of FLUOROCYTOSINE
The word "fluorocytosine" is derived from its chemical composition and structure.
- "Fluoro-" refers to the presence of a fluorine atom in the compound, which is denoted by the chemical symbol F. This prefix indicates that one or more hydrogen atoms in the original molecule have been replaced by fluorine atoms.
- "Cytosine" is a nucleobase that is one of the fundamental building blocks of DNA and RNA. It is one of the four bases found in DNA, along with adenine, guanine, and thymine (replaced by uracil in RNA). The name "cytosine" originates from its discovery in the 19th century from the Greek word "kutos", meaning "cell" or "hollow".
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