1-(2-fluoroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea, also known as **FCNU**, is an alkylating agent that was previously used as a chemotherapy drug. It is no longer commonly used due to its significant side effects, but it continues to be studied for its potential applications in research.
**How it works:**
FCNU is a **nitrosourea** compound, which means it contains a nitrosourea group. This group is responsible for the drug's alkylating activity. Alkylating agents work by attaching to DNA, disrupting its structure and preventing cell division. This process is known as **cell cycle arrest**, and it is how chemotherapy drugs like FCNU kill cancer cells.
**Importance for research:**
* **Understanding cancer biology:** FCNU's mechanism of action has helped researchers understand how alkylating agents interact with DNA and the consequences for cell growth and division. This knowledge can be applied to the development of new and more effective chemotherapy drugs.
* **Investigating other therapeutic uses:** While FCNU is no longer used as a chemotherapy drug, it is still studied for its potential use in other areas, such as:
* **Treating neurological disorders:** Studies have shown that FCNU can reduce the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques in the brain, which are associated with Alzheimer's disease.
* **Treating viral infections:** FCNU has shown some antiviral activity against certain viruses, including herpes simplex virus.
* **Developing new drug delivery methods:** FCNU has a relatively short half-life, meaning it breaks down quickly in the body. Research is being conducted to develop new ways to deliver FCNU to target cells more effectively and prolong its activity.
**Safety concerns:**
FCNU is associated with several serious side effects, including:
* **Myelosuppression:** This is a reduction in the production of blood cells, which can lead to anemia, infections, and bleeding.
* **Nausea and vomiting:** These are common side effects of chemotherapy drugs, and FCNU is no exception.
* **Neurotoxicity:** FCNU can damage nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness.
* **Hepatotoxicity:** FCNU can damage the liver.
Due to these risks, FCNU is no longer widely used in clinical practice. However, it remains an important research tool that can help us understand cancer and develop new treatments.
1-(2-fluoroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea: fluoro analog [Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), National Library of Medicine, extracted Dec-2023]
| ID Source | ID |
|---|---|
| PubMed CID | 83807 |
| CHEMBL ID | 13072 |
| SCHEMBL ID | 3342754 |
| MeSH ID | M0068006 |
| Synonym |
|---|
| urea, 3-cyclohexyl-1-(2-fluoroethyl)-1-nitroso- |
| 13908-93-5 |
| wln: l6tj amvnno&2f |
| sri 2619 |
| 1-fluoroethyl-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea |
| nsc 87974 |
| nsc-87974 |
| 3-cyclohexyl-1-(2-fluoroethyl)-1-nitrosourea |
| nsc 87,974 |
| fcnu |
| urea, n'-cyclohexyl-n-(2-fluoroethyl)-n-nitroso- |
| cyclohexyl fluoroethyl nitrosourea |
| cfnu |
| nsc87974 |
| ai3-52782 |
| 1-(2-fluoroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea |
| n'-cyclohexyl-n-(2-fluoroethyl)-n-nitrosourea |
| brn 2853014 |
| CHEMBL13072 |
| unii-l42gm59sut |
| l42gm59sut , |
| SCHEMBL3342754 |
| DTXSID80160898 |
| n-cyclohexyl-n'-(2-fluoroethyl)-n'-nitrosourea |
| fluoroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea, 1-(2- |
| Assay ID | Title | Year | Journal | Article |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AID114984 | Compound is evaluated for maximally tolerated dose (MTD) against intraperitoneally implanted B16 melanoma cells in mice | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID120457 | Number of day-60 survivors; 1/10 | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID116423 | Optimal percentage of increased life span [(100 x MST treated mice / MST control mice) -100] | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID114963 | median survival time including day-60 survivors (MST), after post implantation at the optimal dose of 20 mg/kg | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID125581 | Tested for 3 log kill of leukemia cells | 1980 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Oct, Volume: 23, Issue:10 | Antitumor structure-activity relations. Nitrosoureas vs. L-1210 leukemia. |
| AID134226 | Toxicity against L-1210 leukemia cells in mice after intraperitoneal administration, activity is expressed as LD10 | 1980 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Oct, Volume: 23, Issue:10 | Antitumor structure-activity relations. Nitrosoureas vs. L-1210 leukemia. |
| AID116569 | Compound is evaluated for antitumor activity against intraperitoneally implanted B16 melanoma cells in mice median survival time including day-60 survivors (MST) | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID23276 | Partition coefficient (logP) | 1980 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Oct, Volume: 23, Issue:10 | Antitumor structure-activity relations. Nitrosoureas vs. L-1210 leukemia. |
| AID116568 | Compound is evaluated for antitumor activity against intraperitoneally implanted B16 melanoma cells in mice median survival time including day-60 survivors (MST); nt=Not tested | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID116425 | Optimal percentage of increased life span [(100 x MST treated mice / MST control mice) -100] at the optimal dose of 20 mg/kg | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| AID120325 | Number of day-60 survivors at the optimal dose of 20 mg/kg; 3/10 | 1984 | Journal of medicinal chemistry, Nov, Volume: 27, Issue:11 | Studies on synthesis and anticancer activity of selected N-(2-fluoroethyl)-N-nitrosoureas. |
| [information is prepared from bioassay data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023] | ||||
| Timeframe | Studies, This Drug (%) | All Drugs % |
|---|---|---|
| pre-1990 | 5 (100.00) | 18.7374 |
| 1990's | 0 (0.00) | 18.2507 |
| 2000's | 0 (0.00) | 29.6817 |
| 2010's | 0 (0.00) | 24.3611 |
| 2020's | 0 (0.00) | 2.80 |
| [information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023] | ||
According to the monthly volume, diversity, and competition of internet searches for this compound, as well the volume and growth of publications, there is estimated to be weak demand-to-supply ratio for research on this compound.
| This Compound (12.66) All Compounds (24.57) |
| Publication Type | This drug (%) | All Drugs (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Trials | 0 (0.00%) | 5.53% |
| Reviews | 0 (0.00%) | 6.00% |
| Case Studies | 0 (0.00%) | 4.05% |
| Observational | 0 (0.00%) | 0.25% |
| Other | 5 (100.00%) | 84.16% |
| [information is prepared from research data collected from National Library of Medicine (NLM), extracted Dec-2023] | ||