Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy drug used in colorectal and breast cancers, offering a more convenient alternative to intravenous treatments in some cases.

It is considered a prodrug, meaning it is converted into its active form, 5-fluorouracil, within the body.

Capecitabine is designed to be preferentially activated in tumor tissues, where it may interfere with DNA synthesis and inhibit cancer cell growth. This targeted activation may help reduce some systemic effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.

However, it may still affect normal cells, and side effects such as hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, and fatigue may occur.