What is Dacarbazine
DacarbazineThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryDacarbazine is a medication used to treat melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It is often used in combination with a drug called Oblimersen in clinical trials for the treatment of malignant melanoma.
Dacarbazineis the brand name
Dacarbazine Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Dacarbazine
Dacarbazine
1998
7
Approved as Treatment by the FDA
Dacarbazine, also called Dacarbazine, is approved by the FDA for 2 uses which include Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Metastatic Melanoma .Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Used to treat Lymphoma, Hodgkins in combination with null
Metastatic Melanoma
Effectiveness
How Dacarbazine Affects PatientsDacarbazine is a medication that helps to treat certain types of cancer. When taken intravenously, it is distributed throughout the body and is removed from the blood in two phases, with an initial half-life of 19 minutes and a terminal half-life of 5 hours. For patients with kidney or liver issues, the half-life is longer. Approximately 40% of the dose is excreted from the body within 6 hours. Dacarbazine is not strongly bound to proteins in the blood.
How Dacarbazine works in the bodyWe don't know exactly how dacarbazine works, but it seems to kill cells by acting as an alkylating agent. It may also stop cell reproduction by acting as a purine analog, and by interacting with SH groups. Dacarbazine works on cells no matter what stage of the cell cycle they are in.
When to interrupt dosage
The measure of Dacarbazine is contingent upon the recognized condition, comprising of Metastatic Melanoma, advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) and Adrenal Medulla. The extent of dosage is outlined in the table below, dependent upon the method of delivery.Condition
Dosage
Administration
advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS)
10.0 mg/mL, , 200.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 600.0 mg
, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution, Liquid, Powder, for solution - Intravenous
Adrenal Medulla
10.0 mg/mL, , 200.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 600.0 mg
, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution, Liquid, Powder, for solution - Intravenous
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
10.0 mg/mL, , 200.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 600.0 mg
, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution, Liquid, Powder, for solution - Intravenous
Pancreatic Hormones
10.0 mg/mL, , 200.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 600.0 mg
, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution, Liquid, Powder, for solution - Intravenous
Pheochromocytomas
10.0 mg/mL, , 200.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 600.0 mg
, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution, Liquid, Powder, for solution - Intravenous
Metastatic Melanoma
10.0 mg/mL, , 200.0 mg, 20.0 mg/mL, 600.0 mg
, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution - Intravenous, Intravenous, Liquid - Intravenous, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intravenous, Powder, for solution, Injection, powder, for solution, Liquid, Powder, for solution - Intravenous
Warnings
There are 20 known major drug interactions with Dacarbazine.Common Dacarbazine Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
2-Methoxyethanol
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Dacarbazine is combined with 2-Methoxyethanol.
9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Dacarbazine is combined with 9-(N-methyl-L-isoleucine)-cyclosporin A.
Abetimus
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Dacarbazine is combined with Abetimus.
Acenocoumarol
Major
The metabolism of Acenocoumarol can be decreased when combined with Dacarbazine.
Acteoside
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Dacarbazine is combined with Acteoside.
Dacarbazine Toxicity & Overdose RiskThe lowest toxic dose of this drug in mice is 350mg/kg when taken orally.
Dacarbazine Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Dacarbazine?
170 active studies are examining the use of Dacarbazine for Metastatic Melanoma, advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS) and Pheochromocytomas treatment.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Metastatic Melanoma
96 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 3, Early Phase 1
Adrenal Medulla
0 Actively Recruiting
Pancreatic Hormones
0 Actively Recruiting
advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS)
8 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3
Pheochromocytomas
0 Actively Recruiting
Hodgkin's Lymphoma
75 Actively Recruiting
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Not Applicable
Dacarbazine Reviews: What are patients saying about Dacarbazine?
5Patient Review
10/3/20094Patient Review
10/8/2009 My wife was treated for stage 3 metastatic melanoma with cisplatin, vinblastin, dtic, IL 2 and interferon at MD Anderson in Houston Tx. She had all the side effects of the D T I C but that is better than death!! Thank G O D FOR THE SUPER INTELIGENT AND CARING PEOPLE AT MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER
Patient Q&A Section about dacarbazine
Is dacarbazine an immunotherapy or chemo?
"Cancers of the skin is a type of cancer that commonly affects the skin. Dacarbazine is a standard chemotherapy drug that is used to treat this type of cancer. It has a response rate of 10-20% and the median duration of response is 3-6 months." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
What is the drug dacarbazine used for?
"Dacarbazine is a medication used to treat cancer. It belongs to a group of medications called alkylating agents. Alkylating agents work by killing cancer cells. Dacarbazine is used to treat cancer of the lymph system and malignant melanoma (a type of skin cancer). It may also be used to treat other types of cancer, as determined by your doctor." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
What does dacarbazine do for cancer?
"Dacarbazine belongs to a group of chemotherapy drugs called alkylating agents. These drugs work by sticking to the cancer cell's DNA and damaging it. The DNA is the genetic code that controls everything the cell does. If the DNA is damaged, the cancer cell cannot divide and make more cancer cells." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer
What are the side effects of dacarbazine?
"The following are symptoms of chemotherapy: nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sores in the mouth and throat, hair loss, feeling of burning or tingling on the face, flushing." - Anonymous Online Contributor
Unverified Answer