Dactinomycin, an antibiotic used to treat cancer

Dactinomycin is an actinomycine anti-cancer antibiotic that is now available as part of the oncology range offered by Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals. It occurs naturally as it is produced by a soil fungus known asStreptomyces. It is also sometimes known as actinomycin D

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What is Dactinomycin used for?Dactinomycin is used in the treatment of various cancers, including:

• Testicular cancer
• Neuroblastoma (a childhood cancer that often develops in the adrenal gland)
• Rhabdomyosarcoma (a rare cancer affecting the muscle tissue).
• Ewing’s Sarcoma (a very rare cancer affecting bone and soft tissue) and
• Melanoma (a common cancer that affects the skin).

How does Dactinomycin work?Dactinomycin works by inhibiting a process known as transcription. This is an integral component to the mechanism by which the cells in the body copy DNA strands in order to allow the cells to divide and replicate. Dactinomycin prevents this by binding to the DNA and then stopping the cellular machinery from building an RNA chain.

This basically means that the cancer cells can’t copy the DNA code that tells them how to make new cells. The consequence of this is that the DNA in the cells of the patient can no longer replicate so the cells die off. The DNA strands in cancer cells replicate faster than in healthy cells so using a drug such as Dactinomycin helps to limit this.  [i]

Are there any side effects associated with the use of Dactinomycin?Yes, there is unfortunately a risk of side effects developing in patients being treated with Dactinomycin. This is because the drug does not only kill tumour cells; it also kills some fast-growing healthy cells such as those found in the bone marrow.

However, it should be noted that these side effects are usually predictable so steps can be taken to minimise or prevent them. Additionally, the effects are almost always reversible.

Patients are advised to contact their doctor or nurse if they have any questions regarding treatment with Dactinomycin. Some of the more common side effects include:

• Nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite (these are more severe when using higher doses but there are many medicines now available to control these symptoms)
• Low blood counts (the decreased production of red and white blood cells in the bone marrow can put patients at risk of picking up a secondary infection. Furthermore, the lower levels of platelets can increase their risk of bleeding)
• Skin problems (e.g. redder skin or peeling skin)
• Mouth sores and ulcers
• Diarrhoea.

How is Dactinomycin taken?
Dactinomycin is administered as an injection by the patient’s doctor or by another trained health professional. The doctor will determine what dosage of the drug is to be given as this can vary between patients depending on type of cancer they have and the severity of their condition as well as on various physical parameters such as their kidney and liver function.

Do patients undergo monitoring during treatment?Yes, patients will receive regular check-ups at which time they will undergo tests for their blood count, kidney function, liver function and electrolyte levels. Their healthcare professional will also check to see if they have experienced any side effects. The patient is recommended to have their heart rate evaluated before they begin treatment.

Conclusion
Dactinomycin powder for injection is available from Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals at a dose of 0.5 mg per vial. Please visit www.tajaccura.com for further details.

Always remember to consult your Doctor or Healthcare Professional if you have any questions about your own health or medications.

Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals are committed to providing affordable pharmaceutical care solutions to health providers and patients globally. Our enthusiastic and highly skilled bi-lingual sales team in English and French are more than welcome to take your queries. We are contactable by emailing info@tajaccura, by phone at + 353 (1) 293 1882 or alternatively by fax at + 353 (1) 293 1883

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[i] Sobell H (1985). “Actinomycin and DNA transcription”. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 82 (16): 5328–31.