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Information |
Drug Groups
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approved; investigational |
Description
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Decitabine is indicated for treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). It is a chemical analogue of cytidine, a nucleoside present in DNA and RNA. Cells in the presence of Decitabine incorporate it into DNA during replication and RNA during transcription. The incorporation of Decitabine into DNA or RNA inhibits methyltransferase thereby causing demethylation in that sequence. This adversely affects the way that cell regulatory proteins are able to bind to the DNA/RNA substrate. |
Indication |
For treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) including previously treated and untreated, de novo and secondary MDS of all French-American-British subtypes (refractory anemia, refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts, refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation, and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) and intermediate-1, intermediate-2, and high-risk International Prognostic Scoring System groups (scores ≥0.5). |
Pharmacology |
Decitabine is an analogue of the natural nucleoside 2’-deoxycytidine. It functions in the same way as 5-Azacytidine. The antineoplastic activity of this drug is dependent on its intracellular conversion to its 5'-triphosphate metabolite. |
Toxicity |
There is no known antidote for overdosage with decitabine. Higher doses are associated with increased myelosuppression including prolonged neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.
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Affected Organisms |
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Humans and other mammals |
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Biotransformation |
The exact route of elimination and metabolic fate of decitabine is not known in humans. One of the pathways of elimination of decitabine appears to be deamination by cytidine deaminase found principally in the liver but also in granulocytes, intestinal epithelium and whole blood.
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Half Life |
The terminal phase elimination half-life is 0.51 ± 0.31 hours. |
Protein Binding |
Plasma protein binding of decitabine is negligible (<1%). |
Clearance |
* 125 L/h/m2 [Patients receiving 15 mg/m2 3-hr infusion every 8 hours for 3 days] * 210 L/h/m2 [20 mg/m2 1-hr infusion daily for 5 days] |
References |
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Appleton K, Mackay HJ, Judson I, Plumb JA, McCormick C, Strathdee G, Lee C, Barrett S, Reade S, Jadayel D, Tang A, Bellenger K, Mackay L, Setanoians A, Schatzlein A, Twelves C, Kaye SB, Brown R: Phase I and pharmacodynamic trial of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine and carboplatin in solid tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2007 Oct 10;25(29):4603-9.
[Pubmed]
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Wijermans PW, Ruter B, Baer MR, Slack JL, Hussain SI, Lubbert M: Efficacy of decitabine in the treatment of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). Leuk Res. 2007 Sep 17;.
[Pubmed]
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Daskalakis M, Blagitko-Dorfs N, Hackanson B: Decitabine. Recent Results Cancer Res. 2010;184:131-57.
[Pubmed]
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Saba HI, Wijermans PW: Decitabine in myelodysplastic syndromes. Semin Hematol. 2005 Jul;42(3 Suppl 2):S23-31.
[Pubmed]
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Jabbour E, Issa JP, Garcia-Manero G, Kantarjian H: Evolution of decitabine development: accomplishments, ongoing investigations, and future strategies. Cancer. 2008 Jun;112(11):2341-51.
[Pubmed]
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Stresemann C, Lyko F: Modes of action of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitors azacytidine and decitabine. Int J Cancer. 2008 Jul 1;123(1):8-13.
[Pubmed]
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Oki Y, Aoki E, Issa JP: Decitabine--bedside to bench. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2007 Feb;61(2):140-52. Epub 2006 Oct 4.
[Pubmed]
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External Links |
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