Azacitidine

Vidaza® (Azacitidine) was approved by the FDA in 2004. It is an orphan product, which means it was developed to treat rare diseases and conditions that affect less than 200,000 people in the United States. Azacitidine is used to treat patients with the following FAB myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes: refractory anemia (RA), refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformationThe process by which a normal cell is converted to a cell that has the characteristics of cancer cells. The event causing the change can be an alteration in an oncogene or infection with an oncogenic virus. Transformed cells demonstrate several characteristic differences from normal cells including: density independent growth, anchorage independent growth, lack of dependence on growth factors. (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemiaA cancer affecting the cells that develop into white or red blood cells. Both of these cell types originate from stem cells in bone marrow. Red blood cells function to carry oxygen to our tissues and the white cells (leukocytes) are part of our immune system. The cancerous cells often accumulate in the blood. (CMMoL). It is injected intravenously (IV), often 7 days in a row, every 4 weeks, for 4 treatment cycles or more.
Azacitidine is a DNAAbbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. Composed of very long strings of nucleotides, which are abbreviated as A, C, G and T. DNA is the storage form of our genetic material. All of the instructions for the production of proteins are encoded in our DNA. demethylating agent. Methylation of DNA is linked to decreased activity of the targeted region. In cancer, genes that control cell division can be turned off by methylation. Azacitidine can reverse the methylation, allowing the genes to function again, ultimately slowing cell growth. Azacitidine is also an antimetabolite. AntimetabolitesDrugs that interfere with the formation of key biomolecules in cells. They often work by blocking the activity of enzymes. These drugs often prevent the normal replication of DNA and therefore cell division. are chemicals that look like things normally used in cells. They can interact with proteins and other cell components, but these interactions don't give the same results as the normally used item. Because of this activity, azacitidine can directly cause the death of cancer cells.
The diagram above shows the 3D molecular structure of Azacitidine.
The side effects of Azacitidine include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain and overall body weakness.1
- 1. Azacitidine. MedlinePlus. [https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607068.html]