cytarabine

Definition of cytarabine

cytarabine (sy-TAYR-uh-been): A drug used with other drugs to treat adults and children with acute myeloid leukemia and to prevent and treat a type of leukemia that has spread to the meninges (the tissue that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord). It may also be used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia and blastic phase chronic myelogenous leukemia. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Cytarabine stops cells from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of antimetabolite. Also called ARA-C.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms