5-FLUOROURACIL DERIVATIVES AS PRODRUGS FOR CANCER TREATMENT

The invention provides novel 5 -Fluorouracil derivatives that are useful as prodrugs for cancer treatment. 5 -Fluorouracil nucleoside triphosphates are masked at the terminal phosphate of the triphosphate group with residues that are cleaved off within the cell releasing the corresponding 5 -Fluorouracil nucleoside triphosphate from the prodrug. In contrast to the classical prodrug 5-Fluorouracil, the 5 -Fluorouracil derivatives of the invention need no further molecules (ribose, phosphate groups) to be added in the cell in order to become an active drug.