Decitabine

Decitabine-Sun-Sun is indicated for treatment of adult 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
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Decitabine-Sun-Sun is indicated for treatment of adult 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.

Three Day Regimen
: Administer DACOGEN at a dose of 15 mg/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion over 3 hours repeated every 8 hours for 3 days. Repeat cycles every 6 weeks upon hematologic recovery (ANC at least 1,000/µL and platelets at least 50,000/µL) for a minimum of 4 cycles. . A complete or partial response may take longer than 4 cycles. Delay and reduce dose for hematologic toxicity
Five Day Regimen
: Administer DACOGEN at a dose of 20 mg/m2 by continuous intravenous infusion over 1 hour daily for 5 days. Delay and reduce dose for hematologic toxicity (see Dose Modifications for Toxicity). Repeat cycles every 4 weeks upon hematologic recovery (ANC at least 1,000/µL and platelets at least 50,000/µL) for a minimum of 4 cycles. A complete or partial response may take longer than 4 cycles.

Most common adverse reactions (>50%) are neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and pyrexia.

Decitabine is believed to exert its antineoplastic effects after phosphorylation and direct incorporation into DNA and inhibition of DNA methyltransferase, causing hypomethylation of DNA and cellular differentiation or apoptosis. Decitabine inhibits DNA methylation in vitro, which is achieved at concentrations that do not cause major suppression of DNA synthesis. Decitabine-induced hypomethylation in neoplastic cells may restore normal function to genes that are critical for the control of cellular differentiation and proliferation. In rapidly dividing cells, the cytotoxicity of decitabine may also be attributed to the formation of covalent adducts between DNA methyltransferase and decitabine incorporated into DNA. Non-proliferating cells are relatively insensitive to decitabine.