Anticancer: Nucleotide Analogs: Mercaptopurine, Fluorouracil, Thioguanine, Allopurinol, Cytarabine, Fludarabine mnemonic

Anticancer: Nucleotide analogs

Interfere with DNA/RNA synthesis
Mercaptopurine [Me cap purine (mercapto=sulfur)]
- Used against ALL [ALL detergent]
- Does not penetrate into CNS [thick skull prevents entry]
- Contraindicated in Leash-Nyhan disease or states that compromise xanthine oxidase system [crossed-out leash]
- Cannot be used with allopurinol [gallop purine]
Fluorouracil [uracil with fluorine]
- Incorporated into RNA and inhibits thymine synthesis which is required for DNA replication
- Impairs conversion of dUMP to dTMP [garbage dump]
- Treatment of hard solid tumors - e.g. breast and colon cancer [hard ball in a vice]
- Also effective against basal cell carcinoma [blue tumors in the skin, as shown on "TV"]
- Causes rash on hands & feet [red hands & feet]
- Eliminated by the liver [ liver vampire bites]
Thioguanine [sulfur iguana]
- Used with allopurinol [sulfur iguana riding galloping-purine]
- Treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia [lances made by acute-angle bones (myelogenous = from bone)]
Cytarabine [citing arab]
- Does not penetrate into CNS [the cited arabic words do not penetrate the thick skull]
- Effective against acute myelogenous leukemia [acute-angle-bones weapon]
- Intravenous administration [syringe weapon]
Fludarabine [flood arab]
- Treatment of CLL (Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a disease characterized by parachute cells [parachute]
- Treatment of hairy cell leukemia, a disease characterized by hairy cells, trap cells and splenomegaly [mouse trap on hairy spleen]
- Intravenous administration [syringe/rocket propulsion]