The Sound of Evolution
Fludarabine
Mechanism of action:
Fludarabine is a fluorinated purine nucleoside analog. After entering the cell, fludarabine is first converted into fludarabine monophosphate and then phosphorylated by cellular kinases into fludarabine triphosphate, which is the main active anticancer form. Fludarabine triphosphate inhibits multiple key enzymes involved in DNA synthesis, including DNA polymerase-α, δ, and ε, ribonucleotide reductase, and DNA primase, thereby disrupting cellular DNA synthesis and ultimately leading to apoptosis.
Reference(s):
1. Rai KR et al. (2000). Fludarabine compared with chlorambucil as primary therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. N Engl J Med.
2. Gonzalez H et al. (1998). Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia in eight patients treated with fludarabine. Hematol Cell Ther.
3. Tournilhac O et al. (2004). Impact of frontline fludarabine and cyclophosphamide combined treatment on peripheral blood stem cell mobilization in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Blood.