Dacarbazine is a chemotherapy medication used to treat melanoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, and belongs to both the alkylating agent and purine analog families of drugs. It is activated by liver enzymes into monomethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide, an alkylating compound that methylates and cross links DNA, inhibiting DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in cancer cells. Beyond melanoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, it is also used to treat sarcoma as part of combination chemotherapy. Given intravenously, dacarbazine was approved by the FDA in 1975 and remains on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
Facts
Drug ClassAlkylating agent and purine analog 1 Mechanism of ActionActivated by liver enzymes into MTIC, an alkylating compound that damages DNA 1 Approved UseUsed as a single agent for metastatic melanoma and as part of the ABVD regimen for Hodgkin lymphoma 1 First Approved / Isolated Year Significant RiskSerious risks include birth defects to children conceived or carried during treatment, possibly permanent sterility, and immune suppression 1 Classification
Approval Status ATC ClassSourced to the subject's own accountL: Antineoplastic and Immunomodulating Agents 2 Route of Administration WHO Essential MedicineSourced to the subject's own account Connections
Sources
1. Dacarbazine (Wikipedia)
Lead section
Dacarbazine is in the alkylating agent and purine analog families of medication.
Mechanism of action section
Dacarbazine is activated by liver microsomal enzymes to monomethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide (MTIC), which is an alkylating compound.
Medical uses section
Commonly used as a single agent in the treatment of metastatic melanoma, and as part of the ABVD chemotherapy regimen to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma.
History section
Dacarbazine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1975.
Side effects section
Among the most serious possible side effects are birth defects to children conceived or carried during treatment; sterility, possibly permanent; or immune suppression.
- Regulatory approval status
View the Source2. Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFirst-level anatomical group codes, Code LQuote, First-level anatomical group codes, Code L
Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents
3. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacarbazine, lead sectionQuote, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacarbazine, lead section
stine, bleomycin, and doxorubicin. It is given by injection into a vein.
4. WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Cytotoxic medicines sectionQuote, WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, Cytotoxic medicines section
Dacarbazine
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does dacarbazine need to be processed by the liver before it works?
It is activated by liver enzymes into MTIC, the compound that damages DNA.
Dacarbazine is given intravenously in an inactive form. Liver microsomal enzymes convert it into monomethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide, known as MTIC, which is an alkylating compound. MTIC methylates and cross links DNA, which inhibits DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in cancer cells.
Which cancers is dacarbazine used to treat?
Metastatic melanoma alone; Hodgkin lymphoma within ABVD; sarcoma in combination regimens.
Dacarbazine is commonly used as a single agent for metastatic melanoma. It is also part of the ABVD chemotherapy regimen used to treat Hodgkin lymphoma, and it is used in combination chemotherapy for sarcoma.
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