Azacitidine
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| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
|---|---|
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4-Amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-one
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| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Vidaza, Azadine |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | monograph |
| MedlinePlus | a607068 |
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| Routes of administration |
SubQ, IV |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Metabolism | possible hepatic metabolism, mostly urinary excretion |
| Biological half-life | 4 hr.[1] |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 320-67-2  |
| ATC code | L01BC07 (WHO) |
| PubChem | CID: 9444 |
| IUPHAR/BPS | 6796 |
| DrugBank | DB00928 |
| ChemSpider | 9072 |
| UNII | M801H13NRU |
| KEGG | D03021 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:2038 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1489 |
| Synonyms | 5-azacytidine |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | C8H12N4O5 |
| Molecular mass | 244.205 g/mol |
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Azacitidine (INN; trade name Vidaza) is a chemical analog of cytidine, a nucleoside in DNA and RNA. Azacitidine and its deoxy derivative, decitabine (also known as 5-aza-2′deoxycytidine), are used in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. Both drugs were first synthesized in Czechoslovakia as potential chemotherapeutic agents for cancer.[2]
Contents
Uses
Clinical
Azacitidine, marketed as Vidaza, is used mainly in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, for which it received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 19, 2004.[3][4] In two randomized controlled trials comparing azacitidine to supportive treatment, 16% of subjects with myelodysplastic syndrome who were randomized to receive azacitidine had a complete or partial normalization of blood cell counts and bone marrow morphology, compared to none who received supportive care, and about two-thirds of patients who required blood transfusions no longer needed them after receiving azacitidine.[5]
It is also sometimes used for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia,[6] as a hypomethylating agent.
Non-clinical
Azacitidine can be used in vitro to remove methyl groups from DNA. This may weaken the effects of gene silencing mechanisms that occur prior to methylation. Certain methylations are believed to secure DNA in a silenced state, and therefore demethylation may reduce the stability of silencing signals and confer relative gene activation.[7]
Azacitidine induces tumor regression on isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 mutant glioma xenografts in mice.[8]
In research, 5-azacitidine is commonly used for promoting cardiomyocyte differentiation of adult stem cells. However, it has been suggested that this drug has a compromised efficacy as a cardiac differentiation factor because it promotes the transdifferentiation of cardiac cells to skeletal myocytes. [9]
Mechanism of action
Azacitidine is a chemical analogue of the nucleoside cytosine, which is present in DNA and RNA. It is thought to have antineoplastic activity via two mechanisms – at low doses, by inhibiting of DNA methyltransferase, causing hypomethylation of DNA,[10] and at high doses, by its direct cytotoxicity to abnormal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow through its incorporation into DNA and RNA, resulting in cell death. Azacitidine is a ribonucleoside, so it is incorporated into RNA to a larger extent than into DNA. The incorporation into RNA leads to the dissembly of polyribosomes, defective methylation and acceptor function of transfer RNA, and inhibition of the production of proteins. Its incorporation into DNA leads to covalent binding with DNA methyltransferases, which prevents DNA synthesis and subsequent leads to cytotoxicity. It has been shown effective against human immunodeficiency virus in vitro[11] and human T-lymphotropic virus.[12]
Inhibition of methylation
After azanucleosides such as azacitidine have been metabolized to 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine-triphosphate, they can be incorporated into DNA and azacytosine can be substituted for cytosine. Azacytosine-guanine dinucleotides are recognized as substrate by the DNA methyltransferases, which catalyze the methylation reaction by a nucleophilic attack. This results in a covalent bond between the carbon-6 atom of the cytosine ring and the enzyme. The bond is normally resolved by beta-elimination through the carbon-5 atom, but this latter reaction does not occur with azacytosine because its carbon-5 is substituted by nitrogen, leaving the enzyme remains covalently bound to DNA and blocking its DNA methyltransferase function. In addition, the covalent protein adduction also compromises the functionality of DNA and triggers DNA damage signaling, resulting in the degradation of trapped DNA methyltransferases. As a consequence, methylation marks become lost during DNA replication.[13][14]
Toxicity
Azacitidine causes anemia (low red blood cell counts), neutropenia (low white blood cell counts), and thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts), and patients should have frequent monitoring of their complete blood counts, at least prior to each dosing cycle. The dose may have to be adjusted based on nadir counts and hematologic response.[15]
It can also be hepatotoxic in patients with severe liver impairment, and patients with extensive liver tumors due to metastatic disease have developed progressive hepatic coma and death during azacitidine treatment, especially when their albumin levels are less than 30 g/L. It is contraindicated in patients with advanced malignant hepatic tumors.[15]
Renal toxicity, ranging from elevated serum creatinine to kidney failure and death, have been reported in patients treated with intravenous azacitidine in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents for conditions other than myelodysplastic syndrome. Renal tubular acidosis developed in five patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (an unapproved use) treated with azacitidine and etoposide, and patients with renal impairment may be at increased risk for renal toxicity. Azacitidine and its metabolites are primarily excreted by the kidneys, so patients with renal insufficiency should be closely monitored for other side effects, since their levels of azacitidine may progressively increase.[15]
Based on animal studies and its mechanism of action, azacitidine can cause severe fetal damage. Sexually active women of reproductive potential should use contraception during while receiving azacitidine and for one week after the last dose, and sexually active men with female partners of reproductive potential should use contraception during treatment and for three months following the last dose.[15]
Azacitidine can also nausea, vomiting, fevers, diarrhea, redness at its injection sites, constipation, bruising, petechiae, rigors, weakness, abnormally low potassium levels in the bloodstream, and many other side effects, some of which can be severe or even fatal.[15]
See also
References
- ↑ Deglin, Judith, & Vallerand, April. (2009). Davis's drug guide for nurses. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company, pp. 204-206.
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- ↑ Vidaza web site.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Whitelaw E. and Garrick D. (2005), The Epigenome, Chapter 7, In: Mammalian Genomics, Ed: Ruvinsky A. & Marshall Graves J.A., CABI Publishing, Wallingford, U.K., ISBN 0-85199-910-7.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Antiretroviral activity of 5-azacytidine during treatment of a HTLV-1 positive myelodysplastic syndrome with autoimmune manifestations
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
