Cytarabine

Cytarabine is an approved anti-cancer drug used mainly in combination with other agents for the treatment of a form of cancer called acute myeloblastic leukaemia. It is has also been reported to beneficial in the treatment of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in some case reports, although in other reports it has not been effective.

The drug can be given by intravenous, subcutaneous or intrathecal injection. It strongly suppresses the bone marrow and can cause a range of blood disorders, as well as nausea, vomiting, fever, anorexia and mouth ulcers.

It is also known as cytosine arabinoside, or ara-C. It is available as a generic (non-brandname) drug, and is also manufactured by Pfizer under the brandname Alexan and by Pharmacia & Upjohn under the brandname Cytosar.