Pharmacological and clinical properties of Xeloda (Capecitabine), a new oral active derivative of fluoropyrimidine

Abstract

Xeloda (Capecitabine) is a fluorocytidine derivative that is selectively tumor-activated to its cytotoxic moiety, fluorouracil. Capecitabine is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In the liver, a 60-kDa carboxylesterase (CE) hydrolyzes much of the compound to 5'-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine (5'-DFCR). Cytidine deaminase (CD), an enzyme found in most tissues, including tumors, subsequently converts 5'-DFCR to 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR). The enzyme thymidine phosphorylase (TP) then hydrolyzes 5'-DFUR to the active drug 5-FU. It is proved that some human carcinomas express TP in higher concentrations than surrounding normal tissues. In Japan, one of the phase 2 clinical trials tested the efficacy of twice daily oral Capecitabine at 1,657 mg/m2/d given for 3 weeks followed by a 1-week rest period and repeated in 4-week cycles in advanced/metastatic breast cancer patients resistant to or recurring during or after docetaxel therapy. The response rate was 20.0% (1 CR, 10 PRs). The median time to progression was 84 days and the median survival time was 452 days. The most common treatment-related adverse events throughout the phase 1 to 2 trials of capecitabine were hand-foot syndrome (50.7%), erythropenia (37.9%), lympopenia (31.0%), hyperbilirubinemia (33.0%) and so on. Capecitabine is expected to provide a new alternative for the treatment of advanced/metastatic breast cancer.