Leucovorin calcium

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-004791",
  "term": "Leucovorin calcium",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A form of folic acid used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of colorectal cancer and anemia and to lessen the toxic effects of the anticancer drug methotrexate or other substances that block the action of folic acid. Leucovorin calcium is also being studied in the treatment of other conditions and types of cancer. It is a type of chemoprotective agent and a type of chemosensitizing agent. Leucovorin is the active ingredient of leucovorin calcium. Also called citrovorum factor and folinic acid.",
    "An active metabolite of folic acid (also called folinic acid and citrovorum factor), which does not require metabolism by dihydrofolate reductase, the molecular target of folate antagonist-type chemotherapeutic drugs. Leucovorin calcium counteracts the toxic effects of these medications, 'rescuing' the patient while permitting the antitumor activity of the folate antagonist. This agent also potentiates the effects of fluorouracil and its derivatives by stabilizing the binding of the drug's metabolite to its target enzyme, thus prolonging drug activity."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "citrovorum factor",
    "folinic acid",
    "calcium (6S)-folinate",
    "calcium folinate",
    "factor, citrovorum",
    "folinate calcium",
    "folinic acid calcium salt pentahydrate",
    "leucovorin"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/leucovorin-calcium/"
}