19F MRS studies of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. A review

19F NMR spectroscopy (MRS) has been used to follow the metabolism of the fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil and its derivatives non-invasively, both in animals and humans. This review is concerned with the information that has been acquired concerning cytotoxicity and detoxification in relation to studies performed with conventional methods. The potential uses of 19F MRS of fluoropyrimidines in research, particularly concerning combination chemotherapy, and in monitoring therapy, are discussed.