Dacilon (Dactinomycin)

Facts of DACILON

  • Brand Name: DACILON
  • Medicine Name: Dactinomycin
  • Company Name: Celon Laboratories Ltd.
  • Pack Size: Single Vial of 0.5 mg
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Description

What is Dactinomycin?

DACTINOMYCIN is for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with Wilms tumor, with rhabdomyosarcoma, with Ewing sarcoma, with metastatic, nonseminomatous testicular cancer, post-menarchal patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, adult patients with locally recurrent or locoregional solid malignancies, as a component of palliative or adjunctive regional perfusion.

Uses of Dactinomycin

  • Adult patients with Wilms tumor, as part of a multi-phase, combination chemotherapy regimen.
  • Adult and pediatric patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, as part of a multiphase, combination chemotherapy regimen.
  • Adult and also pediatric patients with Ewing sarcoma, as a multi-phase, combination chemotherapy regimen.
  • Patients (Adult and pediatric) with metastatic, nonseminomatous testicular cancer, as part of a multi-phase, combination regimen chemotherapy regimen.
  • Postmenarchal patients who are carrying gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, as a single agent or as part of a combination chemotherapy regimen.
  • Such adult patients who are locally recurrent or locoregional solid malignancies, as a component of palliative or adjunctive regional perfusion.
  • The combination of Dactinomycin and Doxorubicin can be used against advanced sarcomas.

Dosage:

  • The dactinomycin 0.5 mg injection should always be given intravenously over the 10-15 minutes. Do not use in-line filters with the cellulose ester membrane.
  • The recommended dose of actinomycin D for the Wilms Tumor is 45 mcg/kg should be given intravenously once every 3-6 weeks for up to 26 weeks.
  • The recommended dose of dactinomycin for Rhabdomyosarcoma is 15 mcg/kg should be given intravenously once daily for 5 days every 3-9 weeks for up to 112 weeks.
  • The recommended dose of actinomycin for Ewing Sarcoma is 1250 mcg/m should be given intravenously once every 3 weeks for 51 weeks.
  • The recommended dose of dactinomycin for Metastatic Nons eminomatous Testicular Cancer is 1000 mcg/m should be given intravenously once every 3 weeks for 12 weeks.
  • The recommended dose of actinomycin d for Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia is 500 mcg intravenously on Days 1 and 2 every 2 weeks for up to 8 weeks.
  • The recommended dose of dactinomycin together with the melphalan for Regional Perfusion in the Locally Recurrent and Locoregional Solid Malignancies is 50 mcg/kg once for lower pelvis and 35 mcg/kg once for upper pelvis.

Warning & Precautions

  • Females of childbearing potential must be advised to avoid pregnancy while on dactinomycin 0.5 mg injection.
  • Inform patients of the increased risk of the secondary malignancies.
  • Females must be instructed not to breastfeed during the treatment with dactinomycin injection and for 14 days after the last dose.
  • Instruct patients to contact their doctor for any probable signs and symptoms of the myelosuppression or infection.
  • Patients should be advised about the signs of VOD and to seek medical help if they experience abdominal distention, new onset jaundice, or right upper quadrant pain.
  • Females of reproductive potential should be advised in order to use effective contraception while on the treatment with dactinomycin injection and for 6 months post the last dose.
  • Hepatotoxicity may occur with the use of dactinomycin. AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin should be monitored before and during the therapy of dactinomycin.
  • Safety with the live viral vaccines after the therapy of dactinomycin has not been studied and vaccination with the live virus vaccines is not recommended prior to or during the treatment.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. WHAT ARE THE USES OF DACTINOMYCIN?  The chemotherapy medication dactinomycin uses are as follows:
  • Wilms tumor
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • Ewing’s sarcoma
  • Trophoblastic neoplasm
  • Testicular cancer
  • Certain types of ovarian cancer
2. HOW DOES DACTINOMYCIN WORKS?  Dactinomycin injection is a cytotoxic actinomycin that helps in binding DNA and inhibiting RNA synthesis. 3. IS IT NECESSARY TO VERIFY THE PREGNANCY STATUS PRIOR TO INITIATING DACTINOMYCIN?  Pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential must be performed before initiating actinomycin d. 4. WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIDE EFFECT OF DACTINOMYCIN?  Mouth ulcers, vomiting, bone marrow suppression, infections, liver problems, muscle pains and hair loss are the dactinomycin side effects. 5. How does Dactinomycin work? Dactinomycin is a cytotoxic actinomycin that binds DNA and inhibits RNA synthesis. Dactinomycin with its cytotoxic activity has been demonstrated in animal models of different human cancers.

Note :-

  • Dacilon (Dactinomycin or Actinomycin) is a generic brand of Cosmegen ( innovator brand) for Wilms’ tumor diseases.
  • If a drug has been approved for one use, physicians may elect to use this same drug for other problems if they believe it may be helpful.
Conclusion: Dactinomycin 0.5 mg has the overall better efficacy and shows less toxicity in comparison to the other respective drugs.
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