Dacarbazine

Dacarbazine for Injection is indicated in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma. In addition, Dacarbazine for Injection is also indicated for Hodgkin's disease as a secondary-line therapy when used in combination with other effective agents.

Dacarbazine for injection is contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated a hypersensitivity to it in the past.

Hemopoietic depression is the most common toxicity with dacarbazine for injection and involves primarily the leukocytes and platelets, although anemia may sometimes occur. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia may be severe enough to cause death. The possible bone marrow depression requires careful monitoring of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelet levels. Hemopoietic toxicity may warrant temporary suspension or cessation of therapy with dacarbazine for injection.

Hepatic toxicity accompanied by hepatic vein thrombosis and hepatocellular necrosis resulting in death, has been reported. The incidence of such reactions has been low; approximately 0.01% of patients treated. This toxicity has been observed mostly when dacarbazine for injection has been administered concomitantly with other anti-neoplastic drugs; however, it has also been reported in some patients treated with dacarbazine for injection alone.

Anaphylaxis can occur following the administration of dacarbazine for injection.

Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects, Pregnancy Category C Dacarbazine for injection has been shown to be teratogenic in rats when given in doses 20 times the human daily dose on day 12 of gestation. Dacarbazine when administered in 10 times the human daily dose to male rats (twice weekly for 9 weeks) did not affect the male libido, although female rats mated to male rats had higher incidence of resorptions than controls. In rabbits, dacarbazine daily dose 7 times the human daily dose given on days 6 to 15 of gestation resulted in fetal skeletal anomalies.