ChemotherapyFDA-approvedFirst-line
5-Fluorouracil
How it works
Inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis and cell division in rapidly growing cancer cells.
Cancer types
Efficacy
Studies show that 5-fluorouracil can improve overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, with median survival rates of approximately 12-14 months.
Side effects
Moderate
Side effects can be significant and may require dose adjustments or supportive medication, but the treatment is usually continued.
Evidence from research
| Study | Cancer type | Stage | Efficacy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Delivery System Boosts Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | The 5-FU/chitosan/β-cyclodextrin formulation showed an IC of 16.5 µM, compared with 42.5 µM for free 5-FU and 27.5 µM for the binary 5-FU/β-cyclodextrin complex. | Source → |
| Testing a New Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Combining Baicalin and 5-Fluorouracil May Improve Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Fibroblasts in Tumors May Contribute to Chemotherapy Resistance | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Curcumin Enhances Effectiveness of Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Researchers Identify 5-Gene Model to Predict 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Quercetin and 5-Fluorouracil May Help Treat Aggressive Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | lab-study | The combination of 50 µM of QC and 25 nM of 5-FU reduced viability by 75% and migration by 87.8%. | Source → |
| Enhanced Cancer Treatment with Cholesterol-Modified Nanocarriers | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | The 1:3 complex reduced metabolic activity and cell viability by over 60%. | Source → |
| Combining Chemotherapy Drugs May Help Target Cancer Stem Cells in Aggressive Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Understanding Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Researchers Identify Metabolites that Enhance 5-Fluorouracil Efficacy in Colon Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Chemokine Linked to Resistance in Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Targeted Cancer Treatment Combines Chemotherapy with Gut Microbiota Regulation | Colorectal Cancer | animal-study | FLSK significantly extends the survival period of mice. | Source → |
| Combining 5-Fluorouracil and Menadione May Help Treat Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| METTL3 and TRAP1 play a key role in how well colorectal cancer responds to a common chemotherapy drug | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Lab Study Finds New Way to Enhance Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Cancer Treatment Raises Triglyceride Levels in Patient | Colorectal Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| New Compounds Show Promise Against Colon Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | The compound SI1/22 and the combination of SI1/22 with 5-FU had greater potency than 5-FU. | Source → |
| Thymoquinone Enhances Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment in Lab Experiments | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Corilagin Enhances Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Hemodialysis Effectiveness in Removing 5-Fluorouracil and Its Metabolites | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | The removal rates of 5-fluorouracil and its metabolite FBAL were 81.2±23.2% and 96.1±8.6%, respectively. | Source → |
| Bletilla striata polysaccharide may reduce side effects of chemotherapy | Colorectal Cancer | animal-study | — | Source → |
| Monitoring Chemotherapy Doses Helps Patients Receive Optimal Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| New Nanoparticles Deliver Cancer Medicine More Effectively | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | 5FU-RuNPs showed a 2.61-fold higher cytotoxic effect compared to free 5FU. | Source → |
| New Compound May Help Overcome Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | animal-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Natural Compounds and 5-Fluorouracil to Fight Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| MicroRNA-19b Linked to Chemotherapy Resistance in Rectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | miR-19b overexpression significantly anticipates patient recurrence (p = 0.002) | Source → |
| Circular RNA Linked to Chemoresistance in Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| New Nanoparticle Delivers Cancer Drug More Safely | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Radiation May Help Overcome Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer | lab-study | FU-R cells showed a 2.7-fold increase of the half maximal inhibitory concentration compared to FU-S parental cells. | Source → |
| New Oral Formulation for Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Researchers Enhance Cancer Treatment with New Delivery System | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | The combination therapy achieved a tumor inhibition rate of 56.9%. | Source → |
| New Drug Delivery System Shows Promise for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment | Pancreatic Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Curcumin with 5-Fluorouracil May Enhance Colorectal Cancer Treatment | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Gold Nanoparticles Deliver Cancer Medicine to Colon | Colorectal Cancer | lab-study | The optimized particles demonstrated 75.7% drug release and 8.9% cytotoxicity against colon cancer cell lines. | Source → |
| Fish Oil May Help Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance in Colon Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | animal-study | — | Source → |
| 5-Fluorouracil and Nutrient Starvation May Trigger Inflammation in Pancreatic Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
This information is provided for general education only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.