Dacarbazine is a fairly old warhorse in the chemotherapy stockpile, its approval dating back to 1975 and the chemotherapy heydey. However, since its initial approval its applications have been limited to a narrow set of cancers.
Drug profile
- Class: Cytotoxic atypical alkylator
- Mechanism of action: Non-cell cycle specific believed to work by inhibiting DNA and RNA synthesis by acting as a purine analogue and adding an alkyl group to DNA.
- Treatment type: Chemotherapy
- US approval: 1975
- Synonyms: DIC, DTIC, Imidazole carboxamide
- FDA Use-in-Pregnancy Rating: Category C
What Dacarbazine is effective for and why
Darcarbazine is best known for its role in the ABVD regimen against Hodgkin lymphoma, often termed as the 'gold standard' in treating this disease.
Dacarbazine is also approved for use against metastatic (malignant) melanoma in the MAID regimen, as well as neuroblastoma and some soft tissue sarcomas.
Dacarbazine Side effects: Overview
The primary side effects of dacarbazine include myelosuppression, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, immune system suppression, severe nausea and/or vomiting (if not proactively controlled), fever, injection site pain, cancer anorexia, and some moderate flu-like symptoms, Other symptoms, such as hair-loss, are not as common with dacarbazine.
Dacarbazine is also considered to be a carcinogenic in animals, although as much has not been convincingly shown in humans.
Finally, CBCs are often performed prior to each injection of dacarbazine to make sure that the WBC and the platelet counts are high enough for the patient to endure the medication.
Sources
- Boyiadzis, Michael M. et al. Hematology-Oncology Therapy. 2007. New York: McGraw Hill, Medical Publishing Division.
- Cancer Drug Manual, BC Cancer Agency
- Perry, Michael C, Editor. Companion Handbook to the Chemotherapy Sourcebook. 1999. Baltimore; Williams & Wilkins.
- Drugs.com: Dacarbazine
Significant studies relating to dacarbazine
