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Details

Stereochemistry ABSOLUTE
Molecular Formula C20H22N8O5
Molecular Weight 454.4393
Optical Activity UNSPECIFIED
Defined Stereocenters 1 / 1
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of METHOTREXATE

SMILES

CN(CC1=NC2=C(N)N=C(N)N=C2N=C1)C3=CC=C(C=C3)C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(O)=O

InChI

InChIKey=FBOZXECLQNJBKD-ZDUSSCGKSA-N
InChI=1S/C20H22N8O5/c1-28(9-11-8-23-17-15(24-11)16(21)26-20(22)27-17)12-4-2-10(3-5-12)18(31)25-13(19(32)33)6-7-14(29)30/h2-5,8,13H,6-7,9H2,1H3,(H,25,31)(H,29,30)(H,32,33)(H4,21,22,23,26,27)/t13-/m0/s1

HIDE SMILES / InChI

Description

Methotrexate is an antineoplastic anti-metabolite. Anti-metabolites masquerade as purine or pyrimidine - which become the building blocks of DNA. They prevent these substances becoming incorporated in to DNA during the "S" phase (of the cell cycle), stopping normal development and division. Methotrexate inhibits folic acid reductase which is responsible for the conversion of folic acid to tetrahydrofolic acid. At two stages in the biosynthesis of purines and at one stage in the synthesis of pyrimidines, one-carbon transfer reactions occur which require specific coenzymes synthesized in the cell from tetrahydrofolic acid. Tetrahydrofolic acid itself is synthesized in the cell from folic acid with the help of an enzyme, folic acid reductase. Methotrexate looks a lot like folic acid to the enzyme, so it binds to it quite strongly and inhibits the enzyme. Thus, DNA synthesis cannot proceed because the coenzymes needed for one-carbon transfer reactions are not produced from tetrahydrofolic acid because there is no tetrahydrofolic acid. Methotrexate selectively affects the most rapidly dividing cells (neoplastic and psoriatic cells). Methotrexate is indicated in the treatment of gestational choriocarcinoma, chorioadenoma destruens and hydatidiform mole. In acute lymphocytic leukemia, methotrexate is indicated in the prophylaxis of meningeal leukemia and is used in maintenance therapy in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. Methotrexate is also indicated in the treatment of meningeal leukemia. Methotrexate is used alone or in combination with other anticancer agents in the treatment of breast cancer, epidermoid cancers of the head and neck, advanced mycosis fungoides (cutaneous T cell lymphoma), and lung cancer, particularly squamous cell and small cell types. Methotrexate is also used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of advanced stage non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. Methotrexate is indicated in the symptomatic control of severe, recalcitrant, disabling psoriasis. Methotrexate is indicated in the management of selected adults with severe, active rheumatoid arthritis (ACR criteria), or children with active polyarticular-course juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

CNS Activity

Originator

Approval Year

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
5.19 pM [Ki]
0.18 mM [IC50]
15.0 nM [IC50]

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Primary
OTREXUP
Primary
TREXALL
Primary
TREXALL
Primary
TREXALL

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
1.205 μM
20 mg/m² single, oral
METHOTREXATE plasma
Homo sapiens

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
3533 nM × h
15 mg single, oral
METHOTREXATE plasma
Homo sapiens

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
55 h
15 mg single, oral
METHOTREXATE plasma
Homo sapiens
3.25 h
20 mg/m² single, oral
METHOTREXATE plasma
Homo sapiens

Funbound

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
50%
METHOTREXATE serum
Homo sapiens

Doses

AEs

Overview

CYP3A4CYP2C9CYP2D6hERG

OverviewOther

Other InhibitorOther SubstrateOther Inducer








Drug as perpetrator​

Drug as victim

PubMed

Sample Use Guides

In Vivo Use Guide
Usual Adult Dose for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Induction: 3.3 mg/m2/day orally or IM (in combination with prednisone 60 mg/m2) daily Usual Adult Dose for Psoriasis Single Dose: 7.5 mg/week orally, IM, or IV until adequate response is achieved Divided Dose: 2.5 mg orally, IM, or IV every 12 hours for 3 doses once a week Maximum weekly dose: 20 mg
Route of Administration: Other
In Vitro Use Guide
VEGF and Ang-1 levels were significantly lower, and Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in NPs (organ-cultured nasal polyps) treated with 100-umolar Methotrexate than in nontreated NPs