ALEXAN 500MG/10ML I.V./S.C./INTRATHECAL VIAL

CYTARABINE DESCRIPTION A PYRIMIDINE NUCLEOSIDE ANALOG THAT IS USED MAINLY IN THE TREATMENT OF LEUKEMIA ESPECIALLY ACUTE NON-LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA. INDICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE NON-LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA AND BLAST PHASE OF CHRONIC MYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA. MECHANISM OF ACTION CYTARABINE ACTS THROUGH DIRECT DNA DAMAGE AND INCORPORATION INTO DNA. CYTARABINE IS CYTOTOXIC TO A WIDE VARIETY OF PROLIFERATING MAMMALIAN CELLS IN CULTURE. IT EXHIBITS CELL PHASE SPECIFICITY PRIMARILY KILLING CELLS UNDERGOING DNA SYNTHESIS (S-PHASE) AND UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS BLOCKING THE PROGRESSION OF CELLS FROM THE G1 PHASE TO THE S-PHASE. ALTHOUGH THE MECHANISM OF ACTION IS NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD IT APPEARS THAT CYTARABINE ACTS THROUGH THE INHIBITION OF DNA POLYMERASE. A LIMITED BUT SIGNIFICANT INCORPORATION OF CYTARABINE INTO BOTH DNA AND RNA HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED.