Cytarabine

Cytarabine, also called cytosine arabinoside or ara-C, is a chemotherapy medicine used to treat acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It belongs to the antimetabolite and nucleoside analog families of drugs. After it is rapidly converted inside the body to cytarabine 5' triphosphate, it blocks DNA polymerase and interferes with DNA synthesis, damaging DNA while cells are dividing in the S phase of the cell cycle. It is given by injection into a vein, under the skin, or into the cerebrospinal fluid. The compound was patented in 1960 and received United States approval in June 1969, and it is sold under brand names including Cytosar-U and Depocyt.