II. Indications

III. Contraindications

  1. Liver malignancies

IV. Mechanism

  1. See Antimetabolite Chemotherapy
  2. Antineoplastic, PyrimidineNucleoside analog of cytidine
    1. By binding DNA at cytidine binding sites, Azacitidine blocks DNA methyltransferase, and in turn DNA methylation
    2. Also acts at RNA, with impaired function

V. Dosing

  1. See other references for disease specific dosing protocols

VI. Adverse Effects

  1. Bone Marrow Suppression
  2. Impaired future fertility

VII. Safety

  1. Avoid in Lactation
  2. Avoid in pregnancy (all trimesters)
    1. Use reliable Contraception
    2. Men should also not father children while taking Azacitidine
  3. Monitoring
    1. Complete Blood Count
    2. Renal Function tests
    3. Liver Function Tests

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

Related Studies

Ontology: Azacitidine (C0004475)

Definition (NCI) A pyrimidine nucleoside analogue of cytidine with antineoplastic activity. Azacitidine is incorporated into DNA, where it reversibly inhibits DNA methyltransferase, thereby blocking DNA methylation. Hypomethylation of DNA by azacitidine may activate tumor suppressor genes silenced by hypermethylation, resulting in an antitumor effect. This agent is also incorporated into RNA, thereby disrupting normal RNA function and impairing tRNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase activity. (NCI04)
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A drug that is used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It belongs to the family of drugs called antimetabolites.
Definition (MSH) A pyrimidine analogue that inhibits DNA methyltransferase, impairing DNA methylation. It is also an antimetabolite of cytidine, incorporated primarily into RNA. Azacytidine has been used as an antineoplastic agent.
Definition (CSP) pyrimidine analog that inhibits DNA methyltransferase, impairing DNA methylation, also an antimetabolite of cytidine, incorporated primarily into RNA; has been used as an antineoplastic agent.
Definition (PDQ) A pyrimidine nucleoside analogue of cytidine with antineoplastic activity. Azacitidine is incorporated into DNA, where it reversibly inhibits DNA methyltransferase, thereby blocking DNA methylation. Hypomethylation of DNA by azacitidine may activate tumor suppressor genes silenced by hypermethylation, resulting in an antitumor effect. This agent is also incorporated into RNA, thereby disrupting normal RNA function and impairing tRNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase activity. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39153&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=39153&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C288" NCI Thesaurus)
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Nucleic Acid, Nucleoside, or Nucleotide (T114)
MSH D001374
SnomedCT 88551000, 412328000, 412329008
English 5-Azacytidine, Azacytidine, 1,3,5-Triazin-2(1H)-one, 4-amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-, 4-Amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-one, 5-Aza-cytidine, azacitidine, AZC, 5-azacytidine (medication), 5-azacytidine, azacitidine (medication), Azacitidine [Chemical/Ingredient], 5 azacytidine, 5-aza, azc, 5 aza, ac 5, azaCITIDine, AZACITIDINE, 5 AZC, Azacytidine, 5-, 5-Azacytidine (substance), azacytidine, 5-AC, ladakamycin, 5 Azacytidine, Ladakamycin, Azacitidine (product), Azacitidine (substance), 5-AZC, Azacitidine
Swedish Azacytidin
Czech azacytidin
Finnish Atsasitidiini
Italian 5-Azacitidina, Azacitidina
Russian AZATSITIDIN, АЗАЦИТИДИН
Japanese アザシチジン
French Azacitidine
Polish Azacytydyna
Spanish 5-azacitidina (sustancia), 5-azacitidina, azacitidina (producto), azacitidina (sustancia), azacitidina, Azacitidina
German Azacitidin, Azacytidin
Portuguese Azacitidina