Background:

3-Deazauridine is a nucleoside analog. It is converted intracellularly to 3-deazauridine triphosphate, which competitively inhibits cytidine triphosphate synthetase thereby inhibiting biosynthesis of the nucleic acid cytidine 5’-triphosphate (CTP). 3-Deazauridine inhibits the growth of L1210 leukemia cells when used at a concentration of 6 µM and dose-dependently reduces mortality in a mouse model of leukemia. It also enhances the incorporation of decitabine into DNA in HL-60 myeloid and MOLT-3 lymphoid leukemia cells when used at a concentration of 20 µM. 3-Deazauridine (100 or 150 mg/kg), when combined with decitabine, reduces mortality in an L1210 leukemia mouse model.