Floxuridine

Information about Floxuridine

Floxuridine (FUDR) is a pyrimidine analogue used as an antineoplastic agent, usually as a continuous hepatic arterial infusion to treat hepatic metastases from colon cancer. 

Liver safety of Floxuridine

Intraarterial floxuridine is associated with a very high rate of serum enzyme and bilirubin elevations during therapy, and with frequent biliary damage that can result in a secondary sclerosing cholangitis, which can be severe and lead to cirrhosis. 

Mechanism of action of Floxuridine

Floxuridine (flox ure' i deen) is a fluoropyrimidine (fluorodeoxyuridine; FUDR) that has antineoplastic action against several solid tumors including liver, gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma and colorectal cancers.  Floxuridine, like fluorouracil, requires conversion to monophosphate and possibly the triphosphate.  It appears to act by inhibition of production or direct competition with thymidine triphosphate, which is necessary for DNA synthesis. 

FDA approval information for Floxuridine

Floxuridine was approved for use as an anticancer agent in the United States in 1970 and is given predominantly by continuous infusion into the hepatic artery to treat metastatic carcinoma of the colon or following resection of colon cancer metastases. 

Dosage and administration for Floxuridine

Floxuridine is available as a powder for reconstitution in 500 mg vials (5 mL, 100 mg/mL) in several generic forms.  Floxuridine is typically given by infusion pump into the hepatic artery in a dose of 0.1 to 0.6 mg/kg/day.  Because the liver metabolizes floxuridine, administration by direct infusion into the hepatic artery deceases the systemic side effects which can be severe. 

Side effects of Floxuridine

Common side effects of intraarterial therapy include bone marrow suppression, fatigue, weakness, headache, dizziness, insomnia, paresthesias, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, stomatitis, and rash.

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• Dailymed label info on Floxuridine
• FDA Floxuridine