Decitabine
Encyclopedia
Decitabine or 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, is a cytidine
analog.
. It hypomethylates DNA by inhibiting DNA methyltransferase
.
It functions in a similar manner to azacitidine, although decitabine can only be incorporated into DNA strands while azacitidine can be incorporated into both DNA and RNA chains.
) and Intermediate-1, Intermediate-2, and High-Risk International Prognostic Scoring System groups.
Cytidine
Cytidine is a nucleoside molecule that is formed when cytosine is attached to a ribose ring via a β-N1-glycosidic bond...
analog.
Mechanism
It is a hypomethylating agentHypomethylating agent
A hypomethylating agent is a drug that inhibits DNA methylation.The term "demethylating agent" is also used.They are undergoing investigation for use in the treatment of tumors.Examples include:* decitabine* azacitidine...
. It hypomethylates DNA by inhibiting DNA methyltransferase
DNA methyltransferase
In biochemistry, the DNA methyltransferase family of enzymescatalyze the transfer of a methyl group to DNA. DNA methylation serves a wide variety of biological functions...
.
It functions in a similar manner to azacitidine, although decitabine can only be incorporated into DNA strands while azacitidine can be incorporated into both DNA and RNA chains.
Clinical uses
Decitabine is indicated for the treatment of 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 leukemiaChronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia is a form of leukemia featuring monocytosis.The categorization of this disease has been controversial. Patients with CMML can present with various clinical features, mimicking either myelodysplastic syndroms or myeloproliferative neoplasms depending upon a patient's...
) and Intermediate-1, Intermediate-2, and High-Risk International Prognostic Scoring System groups.