[The triphosphate salt of Cordycepin, a purine nucleoside antimetabolite analogue and antibiotic isolated from the fungus Cordyceps militaris with potential antineoplastic activity. Cordycepin incorporates into RNA, and, inhibits RNA chain elongation and synthesis due to the absence of a hydroxyl moiety at the 3' position. Because it is converted to an inactive metabolite by adenosine deaminase, this agent must be administered with an adenosine deaminase inhibitor in order to be effective. Cordycepin has displayed cytotoxicity against some leukemic cell lines in vitro. (NCI04) ( NCI )]
UMLS (NCI) C0046803 - Nucleic Acid, Nucleoside, or Nucleotide
- Antibiotic