Last reviewed 2026-04-23 · How we verify

CAPOX 6 month

Capecitabine is a thymidylate synthase inhibitor.

Capecitabine is a thymidylate synthase inhibitor. Used for Colorectal cancer, Breast cancer, Stomach cancer.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Capecitabine is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is a thymidylate synthase inhibitor. This mechanism leads to the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell death in rapidly dividing cancer cells.

Approved indications

• Colorectal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Stomach cancer

Common side effects

• Hand-foot syndrome
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue

Key clinical trials

• Testing the Addition of Paclitaxel Administered Into the Abdominal Cavity Combined With Chemotherapy for Patients With Gastric Cancer Spread to the Abdominal Cavity (PHASE2, PHASE3)
• Neoadjuvant FOLFOXIRI and Chemoradiotherapy Versus Neoadjuvant CAPOX/FOLFOX and Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery or a Watch-and-Wait Approach in High Risk Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (PHASE3)
• Colon Adjuvant Chemotherapy Based on Evaluation of Residual Disease (PHASE2, PHASE3)
• Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Obstructive Colon cancER First Treated by cOlostomy (PHASE3)
• Personalizing Chemotherapy Selection After Surgery for Patients With Stage III Colorectal Cancer Using a Blood Test (PHASE3)
• COLONYVAQ™, a Quantum-Classical Guided Personalized Neoantigen Vaccine for MSS Stage III Colorectal Cancer (EARLY_PHASE1)
• Post-resection/Ablation Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (FIRE-9 - PORT / AIO-KRK-0418) (PHASE3)
• Dostarlimab for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cancer (Non-colorectal/Non-endometrial) With Tumor dMMR/MSI (PHASE2)

Primary sources

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