Details

Dactinomycin is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Dactinomycin is used to treat different types of cancers that affect the kidneys, uterus, testicles, bones, muscles, joints, and soft tissues. Dactinomycin is also used to treat solid tumours. Dactinomycin can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections and help your blood to clot. You may get an infection or bleed more easily. To make sure you can safely take dactinomycin, tell your doctor if you have recently received radiation treatment for Wilms tumour. Using dactinomycin may increase your risk of developing other types of cancer, such as leukaemia.

Typical Uses

Dactinomycin is used alone or with other anti-cancer drugs to treat cancer. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. This medication is given by injection into a vein over a few minutes by a health care professional, usually once daily for 1 to 5 days or as directed by your doctor. Do not give into a muscle or under the skin.

Side Effects

Some of the side effects of dactinomycin include pain, swelling, burning, irritation, or skin changes where the injection was given fever, chills, body aches, diarrhoea, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat swelling or tenderness in your upper stomach, weight gain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all chest pain, dry cough, wheezing pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin any wound that will not heal or redness or your skin or the inside of your mouth and throat (if you are also receiving radiation treatment).

Drug Interactions

• Dactinomycin+adalimumab- Using adalimumab together with dactinomycin may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

• Dactinomycin+certolizumab- Using dactinomycin together with certolizumab may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.

• Dactinomycin+clozapine- Using clozapine together with dactinomycin is not recommended. Clozapine can lower white blood cell count and combining it with other medications that can also affect bone marrow function such as dactinomycin may increase the risk. You may be more likely to develop serious and potentially life-threatening infections as a result.

• Dactinomycin+infliximab- Using infliximab together with dactinomycin may increase the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening infections. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications.

Mechanism of action

Dactinomycin belongs to a class of medicines known as anthracyclines. It is a cytotoxic, antineoplastic (anti-cancer) medicine that works by binding to DNA (gene) and stopping the RNA synthesis, thereby slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body.

Pregnancy Category : D