The clinical activity of decitabine (5-aza-2-deoxycytidine, DAC), a hypomethylating agent, has been demonstrated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients.
Decitabine (5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine, DAC), an anti-leukemic drug, is effective in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Low-dose demethylating agents such as 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine, DAC) and 5-azacytidine (azacitidine, Vidaza) have been explored for the treatment of myelodysplasia, acute myeloid leukemia, and hemoglobinopathies since the early 1980s, aiming to revert a methylator phenotype.
Encouraging response rates of about 50% in myelodysplasia with 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine or DAC) have resulted in a number of phase III studies being initiated in this disorder.
During the last 10 years, three European phase II studies were performed to investigate the treatment of elderly patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with low-dose 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine, DAC).