Dacarbazine (da-KAR-ba-zeen) (brand names DTIC, DTIC-Dome; also known as DIC or Imidazole Carboxamide) is an antineoplastic chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of various cancers, among them malignant melanoma (a form of skin cancer which can spread to other parts of the body). Antineoplastic drugs are drugs which interfere with cell growth and impede the formation of new tissue - in this case, tumor tissue. These drugs are also known as cytotoxic drugs. Dacarbazine belongs to the family of chemicals known as alkylating agents. Dacarbazine is normally administered by injection (a shot) or intravenous infusion (IV) under the immediate supervision of a doctor or nurse.

History

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Dacarbazine gained FDA approval in May 1975 as DTIC-Dome. The drug was initially marketed by Bayer.

Side effects

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Like many chemotherapy drugs, dacarbazine may have numerous serious side effects, because it interferes with normal cell growth as well as cancer cell growth. Among the most serious possible side effects are birth defects to children conceived or carried during treatment; sterility, possibly permanent; or immune suppression (reduced ability of your body to fight infection or disease). Like most powerful drugs, it may produce more common side affects like nausea, fatigue, headache, etc.

Experimental

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Dacarbazine + Oblimersen. In clinical trials for malignant melanoma.

Suppliers

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Bayer continues to supply DTIC-Dome. There are also generic versions of dacarbazine available from APP, Bedford, Mayne Pharma and Teva / Sicor.

Sources

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• MedLine, U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medline/
• Cancerweb, http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cancerweb/
• OncoLink, http://oncolink.upenn.edu/
• WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/
• ChemoCare, http://www.chemocare.com/
• SigmaAldrich Biochemicals, http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/

Chemotherapeutic agents

Dakarbazyna