Preferred Label : L-methylfolate;
NCIt synonyms : L-methyltetrahydrofolate; 5-MTHF; 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate; L-Glutamic Acid, N-(4-(((2-amino-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-5- methyl-4-oxo-6-pteridinyl)methyl)amino)benzoyl)-; 5-Methyl terahydrofolic Acid;
NCIt definition : A nutritional supplement containing the biologically active form of the B9 vitamin
folate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-methylfolate), with potential antineoplastic activity.
Upon administration, L-methylfolate is able to provide methyl groups allowing an increase
in the level of DNA methylation in the promoter regions of certain tumor-promoting
genes, thereby reversing the DNA hypomethylation of these genes and inactivating them.
This may result in a decrease of both tumor cell proliferation and tumor progression.
In addition, administration of L-methylfolate may sensitize tumor cells to the cytotoxic
effects of other chemotherapeutic agents. Unlike folic acid, L-methylfolate is able
to cross the blood brain barrier and could be beneficial in the treatment of brain
tumors. DNA hypomethylation of certain genes leads to chromosome instability and contributes
to tumor development.;
Drug name : Deplin;
Origin ID : C107240;
UMLS CUI : C2939773;
Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- See also inter- (CISMeF)
- Semantic type(s)
- UMLS correspondences (same concept)
- concept_is_in_subset
