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Actinomycin-D
Actinomycin-D intercalates into DNA and inhibits RNA polymerase, preventing transcription and leading to cell death.
Actinomycin-D intercalates into DNA and inhibits RNA polymerase, preventing transcription and leading to cell death. Used for Wilms tumor, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma.
At a glance
| Generic name | Actinomycin-D |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Peking Union Medical College Hospital |
| Drug class | DNA intercalating agent |
| Target | DNA |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Actinomycin-D is an antibiotic that binds to the DNA double helix by intercalating between GC base pairs, thereby blocking RNA synthesis and protein production. This mechanism makes it effective as a chemotherapeutic agent against rapidly dividing cancer cells. It has been used clinically for decades, particularly in pediatric malignancies.
Approved indications
- Wilms tumor
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Testicular cancer
Common side effects
- Myelosuppression
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mucositis
- Alopecia
- Hepatotoxicity
- Nephrotoxicity
Key clinical trials
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Intermediate Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma (PHASE3)
- Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage III or Stage IV Wilms' Tumor (PHASE3)
- Metastatic Ewing's Trial Testing Schedule Enhancement to Improve Outcomes (PHASE1)
- A Study Comparing Higher Dose Chemotherapy Over a Shorter Amount of Time to Lower Dose Chemotherapy Plus Maintenance Over a Longer Amount of Time in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Intermediate-Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma (IR RMS) (PHASE3)
- A Study Using Risk Factors to Determine Treatment for Children With Favorable Histology Wilms Tumors (FHWT) (PHASE3)
- A Single-Arm Study on the Efficacy of Sequential Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgery in Adult Nasal and Paranasal Sinus Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Testing a Standardized Approach to Surgery and Chemotherapy for Type I Pleuropulmonary Blastoma or the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Topotecan, to the Usual Treatment for Types II and III Pleuropulmonary Blastoma (PHASE3)
- Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Patients With Newly Diagnosed Very Low-Risk and Low Risk Fusion Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Actinomycin-D CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Actinomycin-D updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital portfolio CI