Dactol

Dactol is a cytotoxic antibiotic, which is intended for the treatment of oncological diseases. The drug is potent, so constant specialist supervision is required during treatment. The most effective dosage, which will give a minimum of side effects, should be calculated by a doctor with sufficient experience in such treatment.

Indications Dactol

Dactol is prescribed for:

• Ewings sarcoma,
• trophoblastic disease of pregnancy,
• rhabdomyosarcoma,
• Wilms tumors,
• non-seminomatous testicular carcinoma,
• as well as in recurrent or metastatic solid tumors.

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Release form

Dactol is available as a powder from which a solution for injections is prepared. The cardboard package contains one vial of powder for preparing one dose.

Pharmacodynamics

Dactol is an antitumor drug from the actinomycin group. The drug suppresses the proliferation of pathological cells and also has an immunosuppressive effect.

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Pharmacokinetics

Dactol binds to tissue proteins, the drug is practically not metabolized in the body, the main active ingredient - dactinomycin - accumulates in nuclear cells and penetrates the placenta.

The half-life is 36 hours. Elimination from the body occurs slowly (30% of the drug is eliminated within seven days).

In its unchanged form, 50% of the drug is excreted in bile, 10% in urine.

The drug does not penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

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Dosing and administration

Dactol is prescribed individually, depending on the size and location of the tumor, tolerance and treatment regimen.

The maximum daily dose should not exceed 15 mg/kg of body weight. When calculating the dosage for patients suffering from obesity, edema, dry body mass is taken into account, i.e. without taking into account fat.

The dosage of the drug in childhood is no different.

A repeat course of treatment is carried out no earlier than three weeks later, provided that all side effects have disappeared.

To prepare the solution, you will need pure water for injection (1.1 ml). The powder dissolved in water is a concentrate (about 500 mcg/ml), which should be added to isotonic solutions of glucose or sodium chloride.

Dactol can be administered independently or simultaneously with other drugs that suppress tumor growth, and can also be used as an addition to surgical treatment. The drug can be passed through the vessels of the upper or lower extremities, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of side effects.

When treating patients with obesity, as well as those with a history of chemotherapy or radiation, lower doses of the drug are recommended.

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Use Dactol during pregnancy

Dactol can cause hereditary mutations, disruption of embryonic development, and also has a toxic effect on the embryo. A doctor can prescribe Dactol to pregnant women if the benefit of treatment for the mother outweighs the possible side effects for the fetus.

There is no data on the ability of the drug to penetrate into breast milk, but given that most drugs can penetrate into breast milk, as well as severe side effects in children, when prescribing Dactol, breastfeeding should be discontinued.

Contraindications

Dactol is contraindicated in cases of hypersensitivity to dactinomycin or other components of the drug.

Also, the drug is not used for chickenpox, herpes zoster, depressed bone marrow function, liver failure, or elevated uric acid levels in the blood.

The drug is not prescribed to children under 6 months, pregnant and lactating women.

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Side effects Dactol

Dactol has a toxic effect on the body. In the first weeks of treatment, only nausea and vomiting may appear, over time the condition may significantly worsen, but after the end of treatment, the side effects disappear.

After starting treatment, weakness, fever, decreased calcium levels, growth retardation (in childhood), muscle pain, inflammation of the mucous membranes (mouth, throat, stomach, intestines), difficulty swallowing, pneumonia, abdominal pain, and bowel disorder may occur.

Also often observed is a disruption of the liver, a decrease in the level of hemoglobin, leukocytes, platelets, etc.

Skin rashes, acne, and skin pigmentation may occur (especially after irradiation).

If administered carelessly, the drug may damage soft tissues, which may lead to swelling, redness, and decreased joint mobility.

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Overdose

If Dactol is taken in excess of the recommended dosage, it may cause nausea, vomiting, bowel disorder, inflammation of the mucous membranes, severe suppression of the hematopoiesis process, and acute renal failure. An overdose of the drug may be fatal.

In case of overdose, symptomatic and supportive treatment is administered.

During treatment, the functioning of the kidneys, liver, and bone marrow should be monitored.

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Interactions with other drugs

Dactol in combination with other antitumor drugs, myelotoxic drugs or radiation therapy has a stronger therapeutic effect.

The simultaneous combination of Dactol with uricosuric drugs can provoke kidney damage.

Dactol with doxorubicin may enhance the cardiotoxic effect.

The effectiveness of vitamin K may be reduced during treatment with Dactol.

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Storage conditions

Dactol should be stored in a dry place, away from direct sunlight. The drug should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 25 ⁰ C and kept out of the reach of children.

Special instructions

Dactol may interfere with biological tests used to measure the concentration of antibacterial substances in blood plasma. Radiation therapy combined with Dactol treatment may increase bone marrow and gastrointestinal side effects.

During treatment, it is necessary to monitor liver and kidney function, and the concentration of uric acid in the blood plasma.

Shelf life

Dactol is valid for two years from the date of manufacture, provided that storage conditions are met and the packaging is intact.

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