Dexrazoxane Hydrochloride
Dexrazoxane Hydrochloride (Totect®) is used to treat tissue damage due to extravasation of intravenous anthracycline chemotherapyTreatment of cancer patients with anticancer drugs. Commonly called 'chemo'. These drugs work by attacking cell growth or division. Often these agents are used in combination to take advantage of their different modes of attack on cell division..1
The the full mechanism of dexrazoxane activity is unknown, there is some evidence that it inhibits topoisomeraseAn enzyme that cuts double stranded DNA to reduce tension created during local unwinding of the helix. Unwinding of DNA is required for transcription, translation and replication. Chemotherapy drugs such as topotecan and etoposide (VP-16) inhibit topoisomerases. II, an enzymeA protein that speeds up the process of chemical reactions in the body without becoming altered in the process. Almost every biological process is driven by the activity of enzymes. Without enzyme catalysts, the complex reactions that build and break down cell parts would not happen at a rate compatible with life. Enzyme names usually describe the reaction that is being catalyzed and all of them end in -ase. involved in 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. replicationThe process by which DNA is duplicated. DNA replication occurs during the S phase (synthesis) of the cell cycle. Many chemotherapy drugs act during DNA replication. Some are incorporated into the newly replicated DNA and cause problems. Others interfere with enzymes necessary for DNA replication. See topoisomerase. and transcriptionThe production of an RNA molecule from a DNA template. An RNA copy of a gene is produced by an enzyme, RNA polymerase. The RNA produced can either be used directly in the cell or can be used to direct the production of a protein through the process of translation. Many of the genes that are altered in cancer cells have potent effects on the process of transcription. See transcription factor. of RNAAlso: ribonucleic acid. RNA is a polymer comprised of the nucleotides A, C, G and U. RNA is the working form of our genetic information. RNA is produced via the process of transcription. Some RNA is used to help build ribosomes (rRNA) and some (mRNA) are used to guide the formation of proteins. Other forms of RNA are used to perform specialized functions in the nucleus. .1
The diagram below shows the 3D molecular structure of Dexrazoxane, the parent compound of Dexrazoxane Hydrochloride.
Side Effects include: Nausea, Vomiting, Fever, Infection1
Patients on dexrazoxane treatment can develop myelosuppressionThe decreased activity of the blood cell precursors located in the bone marrow. Both red and white blood cells in the bloodstream originate from these cells which are often short-lived and are replaced constantly by rapidly dividing precursor stem cells. Chemotherapy agents, radiation and many other cancer treatments are designed to attack rapidly dividing cells and inhibit the activity of these normal bone marrow cells. Several side effects of cancer treatment, such as anemia and a decreased ability to fight infections (immunosuppression) are due to the effects of these treatments on bone marrow cells.--decreased levels of platelets and red and white blood cells--and therefore should be closely monitored. Women who are nursing, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant should be warned that dexrazoxane poses a potential danger to the fetus or infant.1
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