Deoxycytidine can be used as a precursor for 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, a treatment for people with myelodysplastic syndrome. This compound slows the cell cycle by interfering with the methylation of the P15/INK4B gene, increasing the expression of P15/INK4B protein which subdues the transformation of MDS to leukemia.[3]
Deoxycytidine can serve as a biomarker for tumor diagnosis. Deoxycytidine can be used as a biomarker for breast cancer patients and healthy individuals. 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC), 5-(formyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-fodC), and 5-(carboxyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5-cadC) are intermediates in the DNA demethylation pathway and can act as biomarkers. 5-hmdC levels were significantly reduced in urine samples of breast cancer patients, while 5-fodC and 5-cadC levels were elevated.[4]
↑Staub M, Eriksson S (2006). "The Role of Deoxycytidine Kinase in DNA Synthesis and Nucleoside Analog Activation". In Peters GJ (ed.). Deoxynucleoside Analogs In Cancer Therapy. Cancer Drug Discovery and Development. Humana Press. pp.29–52. doi:10.1007/978-1-59745-148-2_2. ISBN978-1-59745-148-2.
↑World Health Organization (2022). "International nonproprietary names for pharmaceutical substances (INN): recommended INN: list 87". WHO Drug Information. 36 (1). hdl:10665/352794.
↑Kim KW, Roh JK, Wee HJ, Kim C (2016). "Molecular Targeted Anticancer Drugs". In Kim KW, Roh JK, Wee HJ, Kim C (eds.). Cancer Drug Discovery: Science and History. Springer Netherlands. pp.175–238. doi:10.1007/978-94-024-0844-7_9. ISBN978-94-024-0844-7.
↑Guo M, Zhang L, Du Y, Du W, Liu D, Guo C, etal. (March 2018). "Enrichment and Quantitative Determination of 5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxycytidine, 5-(Formyl)-2'-deoxycytidine, and 5-(Carboxyl)-2'-deoxycytidine in Human Urine of Breast Cancer Patients by Magnetic Hyper-Cross-Linked Microporous Polymers Based on Polyionic Liquid". Analytical Chemistry. 90 (6): 3906–3913. doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.7b04755. PMID29316399.
