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Nelarabine


Mechanism of action:

Nelarabine is a nucleoside analog. Nelarabine is a prodrug that, after gastrointestinal absorption or intravenous injection, is converted in the body by adenosine deaminase into arabinosylguanine. Once inside the cell, arabinosylguanine is further converted by the nucleoside kinase system into the active metabolite Ara-GTP. Ara-GTP is mistakenly incorporated into replicating DNA by DNA polymerase, interrupting DNA replication, arresting the cell in S phase, and ultimately triggering apoptosis.

Reference(s):

1. Buie LW et al. (2007). Nelarabine: a novel purine antimetabolite antineoplastic agent. Clin Ther. 


2. DeAngelo DJ et al. (2009). Nelarabine for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am.

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