Dactinomycin actions

In Fig. 1 various targets of some important cytostatic agents are depicted. Their main mechanisms of action can be briefly summarized as follows. Pentostatin blocks purine nucleotides by inhibiting adenosine deaminase. 6-Mercaptopurine and 6-thioguanine inhibit purine ring biosynthesis and they inhibit nucleotide interconversions. Methotrexate by inhibiting dihydrofolate reduction blocks thymidine monophosphate and purine synthesis. 5-Fluorouracil also blocks thymidine monophosphate synthesis. Dactinomycin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin and mitoxantrone intercalate with DNA and inhibit RNA synthesis. L-asparaginase deaminates... 

The mechanism of action of mithramycin (Mithracin) is similar to that of dactinomycin. It is used in patients with advanced disseminated tumors of the testis and for the treatment of hypercalcemia associated with cancer. Mithramycin may cause gastrointestinal injury, bone marrow depression, hepatic and renal damage, and hemorrhagic tendency (see Chapter 62). 

Dactinomycin is an antitumor antibiotic isolated from a Streptomyces organism. It binds tightly to double-stranded DNA through intercalation between adjacent guanine-cytosine base pairs and inhibits all forms of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis, with ribosomal RNA formation being most sensitive to drug action. 

Microbial sources have been a very rich source for cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Of particular note is the Strep-tomyces spp., which has been responsible for the production of many approved anticancer agents that are in clinical practice. These agents are represented by highly diverse structural classes exemplified by the anthracycline family (e.g., doxom-bicin, 73) (72-74), actinomycin family (e.g., dactinomycin, 74), glycopeptides family (e.g., bleomycins A2 and B2, 75 and 76) (75), and mitomycin family (e.g., mitomycin C, 77) (72, 76). All these compounds specifically interact with DNA for then-mode of action. 

Cytotoxic antibiotics produce their effect mainly by direct action on DNA. Anthracyclines include the important drugs doxorubicin, aclarubicin and idarubicin. Related compounds are mitozantrone and epirubicin. Some others are the Streptomyces antibiotic dactinomycin. and the metalchelating glycopeptides especially bleomycins. Mitomycin effectively is a prodrug that is converted in the body to an alkylating agent. 

The p-benzoquinoneimine segment of dactinomycin renders the molecule vulnerable to NADPH/CYP450 reductase. Free radicals can be generated, and additional single-strand DNA breaks can result. The loss of either aromatic methyl group results in a loss of activity. The reason for this profound impact on pharmacological action and therapeutic utility is unknown. 

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