Antineoplastics, Antimetabolite
Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine analog. After intracellular metabolism to its active nucleotide, it inhibits ribonucleotide reductase and competes with deoxycytidine triphosphate for incorporation into DNA. Although use of this drug as a treatment for refractory or relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gemcitabine is often used for this purpose.
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High-power photomicrograph of small cell carcinoma on the left side of the image with normal ciliated respiratory epithelium on the right side of the image.
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This coronal positron emission tomogram shows a large, focal, hypermetabolic area on the right that is consistent with a large mass in the central portion of the right upper pulmonary lobe. Multiple other smaller hypermetabolic areas suggest lymph-node metastatic disease in the chest, abdomen, and right supraclavicular region.
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Winston W Tan, MD, FACP Associate Professor of Medicine, Mayo Medical School; Consultant and Person-in-Charge of Genitourinary Oncology-Medical Oncology, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville; Vice Chairman, Division of Hematology/Oncology Education, Chair, Cancer Survivorship Program, Associate Chair, Department of Medicine Faculty Development, Mayo Clinic Florida; Vice President, Florida Society of Clinical Oncology
Winston W Tan, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Philippine Medical Association, Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Irfan Maghfoor, MD Consulting Oncologist, Department of Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Saudi Arabia
Irfan Maghfoor, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hematology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Nagla Abdel Karim, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Director of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Nagla Abdel Karim, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Egyptian American Medical Association, Egyptian Cancer Society, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.