Dacarbazine is an alkylating antineoplastic agent, a chemotherapy compound used in the research of numerous cancers including melanoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma. It was first synthesized at Southern Research (Alabama) in 1959.
Dacarbazine is slightly soluble in water.
| Mechanism of Action |
When converted to its active form, Dacarbazine methylates the DNA base guanine at the O-6 position, causing DNA damage which will lead to cell death. In vivo, Dacarbazine is activated by liver microsomal enzymes to monomethyl triazeno imidazole carboxamide (MTIC), which is an alkylating compound. It causes methylation, DNA modification and cross linking, thus inhibiting DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. |
| Cancer Applications |
Dacarbazine is an antineoplastic alkylating agent used for metastatic malignant melanoma research. |
| References |
Al-Badrr AA and Alodhaib MM (2016) Dacarbazine, Ch. 4 in: Profiles of Drug Substances, Excipients and Related Methodology. Academic Press. Ed. by Brittain HG. 41:323-377 Eggermont AMM, Kirkwood JM (2004) Re-evaluating the role of dacarbazine in metastatic melanoma: what have we learned in 30 years? Eur. J. Canc. 40(12):1825-1836 Sanada M et al 2007 Modes of actions of two types of anti-neoplastic drugs, dacarbazine and ACNU, to induce apoptosis. Carc. 28(12):2657-2663 Serrone L, Zeuli M, Sega FM, Cognetti F (2000) Dacarbazine-based chemotherapy for metastatic melanoma: thirty-year experience overview. J. Exp. Clin. Cancer Res. 19(1):21-34 PMID 0840932 |