Gemcitabine is a 2'-deoxycytidine having geminal fluoro substituents in the 2'-position. An inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, gemcitabine is used in the treatment of various carcinomas, particularly non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer and breast cancer. It has a role as a radiosensitizing agent, an antimetabolite, an antineoplastic agent, a xenobiotic, an immunosuppressive agent, an antiviral drug, a photosensitizing agent, a prodrug, a DNA synthesis inhibitor, an EC 1.17.4.1 (ribonucleoside-diphosphate reductase) inhibitor and an environmental contaminant. It is a pyrimidine 2'-deoxyribonucleoside and an organofluorine compound.
