5-azacytidine


5-azacytidine

A chemical analogue of the nucleoside cytidine which cells incorporate into DNA during replication and RNA during transcription; it inhibits methyltransferase resulting in demethylation of the sequence, affecting the binding of cell regulatory proteins to the DNA/RNA substrate. It is used to manage myelodysplastic syndromes.
 
Adverse effects
Anaemia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased blood pressure, liver defects, pulmonary oedema.