Gemcitabine Hydrochloride (2'-Deoxy-2',2'-difluorocytidine Hydrochloride, dFdC, dFdCyd)

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog of deoxycytidine used as chemotherapy to treat patients with various types of cancer. After passage through the cell membrane via nucleoside transporters, gemcitabine undergoes complex intracellular conversion to gemcitabine diphosphate (dFdCDP) and triphosphate (dFdCTP). dFdCTP inhibits DNA polymerase by competing with deoxycytidine triphosphate (dCTP). dFdCDP inhibits ribonucleoside reductase and DNA synthesis by causing depletion of deoxyribonucleotide pools, and thus potentiating the effects of dFdCTP. Gemcitabine can be inactivated to 2,2'-difluorodeoxyuridine, mainly by deoxycytidine deaminase. Also, 5'-nucleotidase catalyses the conversion of nucleotides to nucleosides and inhibits nucleoside kinases. Solubility: Soluble in DMSO at 12.5mg/ml with slight warming, very poorly soluble in ethanol, soluble in water at 25mg/ml with slight warming, buffers, serum, or other additives may increase or decrease the aqueous solubility. Elemental Analysis: Calculated:, C: 36.07%, H: 4.04%, Cl: 11.83%, F: 12.68%, N: 14.02%, Storage and Stability: May be stored at RT for short-term only. Long-term storage is recommended at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial prior to removing the cap.