Research progress of cytarabine and its influence on chemotherapy in acute leukemia

Abstract

Cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) is one of the most important chemotherapy drugs in curing acute leukemia (AL), comprised in most protocols of combined chemotherapy at present. Deoxycytidine kinase (DCK) is rate-limiting enzyme in the metabolism process of Ara-C in vivo. The expression of DCK gene, as well as the function of DCK has a remarkable impact on curative effect of AL chemotherapy. In this article, we review the influences of DCK gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), expression of DCK gene mRNA and DCK protein phosphorylation on the structure and function of DCK. Key words: Cytarabine; Deoxycytidine kinase; Leukemia