Capecitabine
Definition
Capecitabine (brand name Xeloda) is a drug that interferes with the growth of cancer cells.
Purpose
Capecitabine is used to treat breast cancer and cancer of the colon and rectum (colorectal cancer) that have spread to other parts of the body (metastasized).
Description
Capecitabine is a recently developed drug. It is a type of medicine called an antimetabolite because it interferes with the metabolism and growth of cells. Capecitabine is an unusual anti-cancer drug in that it is most active in cancer cells; normal cells are exposed to far lower concentrations of the drug. Cancer cells convert capecitabine into another...
[The entire page is 1202 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
