ALEXAN 50mg / ml injectible solution medication leaflet

L01BC01 • cytarabine • Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents | Antimetabolites | Pyrimidine analogues

Cytarabine is a chemotherapy drug primarily used to treat leukemias, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the blast phase. It belongs to the class of antimetabolites and works by inhibiting DNA synthesis in cancer cells, leading to the cessation of cell division and, ultimately, cell death.

The mechanism of action of cytarabine involves interference with nucleotide metabolism. After being converted into its active form (cytarabine triphosphate), it incorporates into the DNA chain during replication, thereby inhibiting DNA elongation and DNA polymerase activity. This effect is specific to rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells.

Cytarabine is administered intravenously, subcutaneously, or intrathecally, depending on the type of cancer and treatment protocol. It is often used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to enhance treatment efficacy. High-dose cytarabine therapy is also employed to treat aggressive forms of leukemia.

While effective, cytarabine can cause significant side effects. The most common include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, myelosuppression (reduction in blood cell counts), fever, and skin rashes. In rare cases, more severe reactions such as neurological toxicity, liver damage, or cytarabine syndrome (characterized by fever, muscle pain, and skin rash) may occur. Close monitoring of patients during treatment is essential to detect and manage potential complications promptly.