Question

All the following question are on folic acid and dTMP synthesis cycle.

a. Explain why folic acid is an important dietary supplement for pregnant women and women of child-bearing age.

b. Name the 2 requirements necessary for active folate.

c. Leucovorin is a form of active folate that can be used in combination with potent anticancer agents. Describe how the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and leucovorin can enhance the treatment.

d. Explain the difference in administration time between 5FU+leucovorin and methotrexate (MTX)+leucovorin.

Answer 1

A. Folic acid is one of the most important dietary supplement for pregnant women because during the development of the baby in early stages folic acid helps to form the babys neural tube it also can help to prevent the baby with some major birth defects in the brain.
Usually birth defects happen in the first 28 days of the pregnancy where the woman itself doesnt know she's carrying, so Women who are in the child bearing years should make sure to get enough folic acid.

B. Active folate

• during pregnancy: 600 mcg.
• during lactation: 500 mcg.

C . Leucovorin is a reduced folate that is also metabolized into a tetrahydrofolate, and this tetrahydrofolate then binds to thymidylate synthase with FdUMP forming a ternary complex that stabilizes p inhibition. Bolus plus -Fu lecrovin actually helps with the

D. Administration of 5fu and leucovorin

• Injection
• Infusion (intravenous, IV).
• tablet by mouth.
• As an injection (intramuscular, IM).

The difference in administration time is 3-6 days for MTC and leucovorin