Abbreviation: 5-FU. An anti-
cancer agent similar in structure to the
nitrogenous base thymine, which inhibits the
enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thus
nucleotide synthesis, so that it is particularly harmful to rapidly growing cells such as in
tumors.
From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.