Paper II
2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Folinic acid along with 5 – fluorouracil

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Answer

5-Fluorouracil is metabolized to FdUMP, which inhibits thymidylate synthase (blocking dTMP synthesis, needed for DNA replication). Folinic acid (leucovorin) increases the intracellular pool of reduced folate cofactors, stabilizing the ternary complex between FdUMP, thymidylate synthase, and the folate cofactor — this potentiates and prolongs the inhibition of thymidylate synthase, enhancing 5-FU’s cytotoxic anticancer effect (a synergistic biochemical modulation, in contrast to its “rescue” role with methotrexate).

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